‘To do something now will cost an absolute fortune’

FAMILIES have called for action to be taken to stop a Grade Ii-listed historic mill falling into ‘rack and ruin’ – after police were called out to the building.

Big Mill, in Leek, has been derelict for more than a decade, and plans to convert it into apartments have stalled.

Police were called out to the Mill Street site in response to a sighting of men on the roof, raising concerns about the safety of the derelict building.

Now residents living nearby say something needs to be done to stop the landmark, which is situated on one of the main gateways into Leek, from deteriorating further.

Police were called to the mill on December 27 – and deployed the force helicopter – after receiving the report that people were on the building’s roof.

A spokesman said: “Staffordshire Police was called to a report of four men on the roof of the Big Mill in Leek at around 8.15pm on December 27.

“When officers attended, there was no sign of anyone on the roof and safety messaging was issued to deter others from doing the same.”

The six-storey former silk mill, designed by celebrated architect William Sugden, was built in 1857.

Planning permission has been granted for 44 apartments, but the building has been empty for more than 10 years.

Its condition has seriously deteriorated following the theft of lead from its roof, causing internal floors and structural beams to fail.

In the summer, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council approved a £20,000 grant to help the owner cover the building with heavy-duty tarpaulin sheets in an effort to halt the deterioration.

It is understood talks are underway in a bid to expediate the development of the site.

Mill Street resident Dave Bossons, aged 72, said: “It needs something doing with it – it should have been dealt with long ago. As it stands, it’s an eyesore.

“To do something with it now is going to cost an absolute fortune. If something had been done with it years ago it could have generated income, instead of losing it.

“It’s a lovely old building and it’s such a shame to see it standing there doing absolutely nothing.”

Neighbour Jane Travis, aged 52, said: “It’s an incredible building.

“I look at it all the time and think how beautiful it is. It’s a terrible shame to see it like it is.

“It could be turned into nice apartments, or it would be fantastic to have something like a cinema, perhaps with parking underneath.

“I would imagine it would cost a fortune to redevelop because it’s a colossal size.”

Eighty-seven-year-old Geoff Robinson, whose home in Badnall Street overlooks the mill, said: “It was suggested that it was turned into flats – it would be ideal for that.

“It’s such a pity for it to be like it is. The trouble is, you can’t do much with property like that today.”

Abbie Turner, who lives in the Haregate area of Leek, used to live near the mill in Grove Street.

The 40-year-old said: “A lot of people go in there because there are rumours it’s haunted.

“It could probably be made more secure.”