Action taken to secure ‘dangerous’ Victorian mill targeted by trespassers and vandals

A historic Victorian mill in Stalybridge blighted by vandals will soon be secured by fences and CCTV cameras.

The Grade II-listed Oakwood Mill has stood in Stalybridge since the 1850s. Left empty in the early noughties, the former spinning mill has deteriorated and suffered a series of collapses.

The north spinning mill section of the building was lost following a fire in the 1990s and the most recent building collapse happened in February 2018. 

The worsening state of the mill has been exacerbated by vandalism from trespassers, according to site owners Casey Group Ltd. They say they have turfed out individuals who risked entering the site on a number of occasions.

The former home of the Staly Mill Company, and later the Dukinfield Bleaching Company, is now in a poor condition. This proposal tabled by the Casey Group is intended to secure the building and prevent further deterioration. 

Planning papers read: “There is a continuing need to fix damage caused to the temporary perimeter security/safety fencing and buildings themselves. The applicant has been on site to remove trespassers numerous times over the years and has also received countless reports from neighbouring residents about unauthorised access and vandalism.

“This necessitates the proposed security measures and maintenance work.”

The Casey Group now have permission from Tameside Council to fence off and install CCTV cameras on the Grenville Street site. They will also conduct repair works to improve the safety of the site.

There is an intention to bring forward a redevelopment scheme for the mill in the future, according to planning papers.