Public to have say on the future of Brierfield mill

5:00pm Wednesday 3rd October 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Kate Jackson, Reporter

The former Smith and Nephew site and (inset) Andrew Stephenson MP The former Smith and Nephew site and (inset) Andrew Stephenson MP

PENDLE MP Andrew Stephenson is writing to 150 households asking what they would like to see happen to a landmark building in Brierfield.

The historic grade II listed former Smith and Nephew building, which Pendle Council bought for £1.5million in March, has been vacant since medical supplies firm BSN closed down operations more than six years ago.

The council is now looking at funding possibilities to get the building up to the standard required for redevelopment after a recent initial bid to the European Regional Development Fund was unsuccessful.

The mill is now under the control of a specially-created subsidiary of Pendle Council’s enterprise arm, PEARL2 Mr Stephenson said: “The site of the mill is seven acres, it is a very large area and as such there is plenty of scope for potential businesses or other ventures.

“It is ideally placed next to the railway line and with close links to the M65, so it could function as a hotel chain, business centre, housing development or other private sector retailers.

“We have already had interest from a number of engineering firms that would like to expand.

“Funding is needed now to remove remnants of the previous owners and also electrical work needs undertaking. I have my ideas about what I would like to see happen to the mill but I think it is essential that people who live on its doorstep have the chance to say what they would or wouldn’t like to see it used for.”

Brian Cookson, executive drector (regeneration), said: “This is undoubtedly going to be a long-term project, and the most important thing is that, as one of English Heritage’s Listed Buildings at Risk, it’s been secured and protected from further deterioration.

“At the moment, we have monthly project meetings with Barnfield to progress our plans for the mill. We’re currently looking at possible funding for the redevelopment of the mill buildings.

“A recent initial bid to the European Regional Development Fund was unsuccessful, but we’re looking at alternatives and are hopeful that we will secure funding.

“We’ve commissioned a Conservation Strategy to ensure we look after the heritage aspects of the building properly.”

A meeting for potential agents and surveyors takes place tomorrow. For more information, contact tracy.bate @barnfieldconstruction.co.uk or call 01282 442300.

Comments (13)

5:30pm Wed 3 Oct 12

DirtyHarry says...

Erm isn't there a story a bit further down about Pendle Council asking for suggestions of how to plug the 1.5 million hole in their forthcoming budget?

How handy that this Mill cost Pendle council 1.5 million !

This might be stating the bleedin obvious but why not sell it ?
Erm isn't there a story a bit further down about Pendle Council asking for suggestions of how to plug the 1.5 million hole in their forthcoming budget? How handy that this Mill cost Pendle council 1.5 million ! This might be stating the bleedin obvious but why not sell it ? DirtyHarry

5:38pm Wed 3 Oct 12

DirtyHarry says...

I note with interest one of Mr Stephenson's suggestions for development of the mill being a possible location for a hotel chain. Has he been to Brierfield recently? Firstly which reputable hotel chain would even begin to consider locating there and secondly who would want to stay in a hotel slap bang in the middle of a town that died a long time ago, a town that is rife with drug dealing, organised crime group warfare and the sexual exploitation of young girls?

unless you want to set up a dodgy car sales garage or carwash as a front for laundering drugs money then Brierfield isn't for you.
I note with interest one of Mr Stephenson's suggestions for development of the mill being a possible location for a hotel chain. Has he been to Brierfield recently? Firstly which reputable hotel chain would even begin to consider locating there and secondly who would want to stay in a hotel slap bang in the middle of a town that died a long time ago, a town that is rife with drug dealing, organised crime group warfare and the sexual exploitation of young girls? unless you want to set up a dodgy car sales garage or carwash as a front for laundering drugs money then Brierfield isn't for you. DirtyHarry

7:19pm Wed 3 Oct 12

RUinsane says...

I think it would make a great half way house for all the reformed offenders in lancashire. They could teach them life skills and try and educate them a bit. A massive University for offenders. I'm sure the government would give the council a huge chunk of cash per student.
I think it would make a great half way house for all the reformed offenders in lancashire. They could teach them life skills and try and educate them a bit. A massive University for offenders. I'm sure the government would give the council a huge chunk of cash per student. RUinsane

7:49pm Wed 3 Oct 12

2 for 5p says...

I would Like a few sticks of TNT drilled in to it.
I would Like a few sticks of TNT drilled in to it. 2 for 5p

9:17pm Wed 3 Oct 12

DirtyHarry says...

RUinsane wrote:
I think it would make a great half way house for all the reformed offenders in lancashire. They could teach them life skills and try and educate them a bit. A massive University for offenders. I'm sure the government would give the council a huge chunk of cash per student.
Even reformed offenders have standards.
[quote][p][bold]RUinsane[/bold] wrote: I think it would make a great half way house for all the reformed offenders in lancashire. They could teach them life skills and try and educate them a bit. A massive University for offenders. I'm sure the government would give the council a huge chunk of cash per student.[/p][/quote]Even reformed offenders have standards. DirtyHarry

11:30pm Wed 3 Oct 12

tonygreaves says...

What a pity that some people are so cynical and unpleasant with it.

It did not cost Pendle Council £1.5million. Pendle got the money to buy it from a government agency. It now belongs to an offshoot of PEARL2 which is effectively the Council.

I am not however sure why Andrew Stephenson uses the word "we"! When was he part of Pendle Council?

Tony Greaves
What a pity that some people are so cynical and unpleasant with it. It did not cost Pendle Council £1.5million. Pendle got the money to buy it from a government agency. It now belongs to an offshoot of PEARL2 which is effectively the Council. I am not however sure why Andrew Stephenson uses the word "we"! When was he part of Pendle Council? Tony Greaves tonygreaves

12:02am Thu 4 Oct 12

DirtyHarry says...

tonygreaves wrote:
What a pity that some people are so cynical and unpleasant with it.

It did not cost Pendle Council £1.5million. Pendle got the money to buy it from a government agency. It now belongs to an offshoot of PEARL2 which is effectively the Council.

I am not however sure why Andrew Stephenson uses the word "we"! When was he part of Pendle Council?

Tony Greaves
The point is Tony that the area has such a bad reputation for a whole host of reasons, that it will be extremely difficult to attract anybody that is willing to invest the substantial amounts of money required to make it into something viable and of economic benefit to Brierfield and Pendle as a whole.

I fear that Pendle council are going to be left with something of a White Elephant with this.
[quote][p][bold]tonygreaves[/bold] wrote: What a pity that some people are so cynical and unpleasant with it. It did not cost Pendle Council £1.5million. Pendle got the money to buy it from a government agency. It now belongs to an offshoot of PEARL2 which is effectively the Council. I am not however sure why Andrew Stephenson uses the word "we"! When was he part of Pendle Council? Tony Greaves[/p][/quote]The point is Tony that the area has such a bad reputation for a whole host of reasons, that it will be extremely difficult to attract anybody that is willing to invest the substantial amounts of money required to make it into something viable and of economic benefit to Brierfield and Pendle as a whole. I fear that Pendle council are going to be left with something of a White Elephant with this. DirtyHarry

10:56am Thu 4 Oct 12

Izanears says...

tonygreaves wrote:
What a pity that some people are so cynical and unpleasant with it.

It did not cost Pendle Council £1.5million. Pendle got the money to buy it from a government agency. It now belongs to an offshoot of PEARL2 which is effectively the Council.

I am not however sure why Andrew Stephenson uses the word "we"! When was he part of Pendle Council?

Tony Greaves
This is a typical TG answer. People have a right to be cynical because whether Pendle council paid for the mill or purchased it with a government grant matters not. It still was paid for using taxpayers money.
[quote][p][bold]tonygreaves[/bold] wrote: What a pity that some people are so cynical and unpleasant with it. It did not cost Pendle Council £1.5million. Pendle got the money to buy it from a government agency. It now belongs to an offshoot of PEARL2 which is effectively the Council. I am not however sure why Andrew Stephenson uses the word "we"! When was he part of Pendle Council? Tony Greaves[/p][/quote]This is a typical TG answer. People have a right to be cynical because whether Pendle council paid for the mill or purchased it with a government grant matters not. It still was paid for using taxpayers money. Izanears

2:12pm Fri 5 Oct 12

tonygreaves says...

Of course it was bought with public funds. ("Taxpayers money" is a silly right-wing term people use to rubbish anything the government and councils do.)

Of course ther is a risk to it. But if it is successful as I think it can be, it will transform the futue for Brierfield. That is what a good Council like Pendle does.

Tony Greaves

PS If "jellybiff" uses his own name so I can judge his abuse fairly I will respond. I do not respond to irrelevant anonymous abuse.
Of course it was bought with public funds. ("Taxpayers money" is a silly right-wing term people use to rubbish anything the government and councils do.) Of course ther is a risk to it. But if it is successful as I think it can be, it will transform the futue for Brierfield. That is what a good Council like Pendle does. Tony Greaves PS If "jellybiff" uses his own name so I can judge his abuse fairly I will respond. I do not respond to irrelevant anonymous abuse. tonygreaves

2:12pm Fri 5 Oct 12

tonygreaves says...

Of course it was bought with public funds. ("Taxpayers money" is a silly right-wing term people use to rubbish anything the government and councils do.)

Of course ther is a risk to it. But if it is successful as I think it can be, it will transform the futue for Brierfield. That is what a good Council like Pendle does.

Tony Greaves

PS If "jellybiff" uses his own name so I can judge his abuse fairly I will respond. I do not respond to irrelevant anonymous abuse.
Of course it was bought with public funds. ("Taxpayers money" is a silly right-wing term people use to rubbish anything the government and councils do.) Of course ther is a risk to it. But if it is successful as I think it can be, it will transform the futue for Brierfield. That is what a good Council like Pendle does. Tony Greaves PS If "jellybiff" uses his own name so I can judge his abuse fairly I will respond. I do not respond to irrelevant anonymous abuse. tonygreaves

9:54pm Fri 5 Oct 12

Rimbus says...

tonygreaves wrote:
Of course it was bought with public funds. ("Taxpayers money" is a silly right-wing term people use to rubbish anything the government and councils do.)

Of course ther is a risk to it. But if it is successful as I think it can be, it will transform the futue for Brierfield. That is what a good Council like Pendle does.

Tony Greaves

PS If "jellybiff" uses his own name so I can judge his abuse fairly I will respond. I do not respond to irrelevant anonymous abuse.
You acknowledge that there is a risk. Have you quantified the downside risk? What is the maximum potential loss that public funds administered by Pendle Borough Council will have to accommodate and if it does all go horribly wrong what services will need to be cut to meet the bill. Politicians should never be in the business of risk-taking, they have an extremely poor track record.
[quote][p][bold]tonygreaves[/bold] wrote: Of course it was bought with public funds. ("Taxpayers money" is a silly right-wing term people use to rubbish anything the government and councils do.) Of course ther is a risk to it. But if it is successful as I think it can be, it will transform the futue for Brierfield. That is what a good Council like Pendle does. Tony Greaves PS If "jellybiff" uses his own name so I can judge his abuse fairly I will respond. I do not respond to irrelevant anonymous abuse.[/p][/quote]You acknowledge that there is a risk. Have you quantified the downside risk? What is the maximum potential loss that public funds administered by Pendle Borough Council will have to accommodate and if it does all go horribly wrong what services will need to be cut to meet the bill. Politicians should never be in the business of risk-taking, they have an extremely poor track record. Rimbus

12:37am Mon 8 Oct 12

ToffeeGuy says...

tonygreaves wrote:
Of course it was bought with public funds. ("Taxpayers money" is a silly right-wing term people use to rubbish anything the government and councils do.)

Of course ther is a risk to it. But if it is successful as I think it can be, it will transform the futue for Brierfield. That is what a good Council like Pendle does.

Tony Greaves

PS If "jellybiff" uses his own name so I can judge his abuse fairly I will respond. I do not respond to irrelevant anonymous abuse.
Quote""Taxpayers money" is a silly right-wing term."

You are probably familar with right-wing terms seeing as your party are cosying up with the Tories in the current government.

Another £10billion cuts announced today which will hit the poor and needy in our society. Lib Dems are part of the most right-wing government in a generation. Shame on the Lib Dems. Shame.
[quote][p][bold]tonygreaves[/bold] wrote: Of course it was bought with public funds. ("Taxpayers money" is a silly right-wing term people use to rubbish anything the government and councils do.) Of course ther is a risk to it. But if it is successful as I think it can be, it will transform the futue for Brierfield. That is what a good Council like Pendle does. Tony Greaves PS If "jellybiff" uses his own name so I can judge his abuse fairly I will respond. I do not respond to irrelevant anonymous abuse.[/p][/quote]Quote""Taxpayers money" is a silly right-wing term." You are probably familar with right-wing terms seeing as your party are cosying up with the Tories in the current government. Another £10billion cuts announced today which will hit the poor and needy in our society. Lib Dems are part of the most right-wing government in a generation. Shame on the Lib Dems. Shame. ToffeeGuy

10:08am Wed 10 Oct 12

disgusted tunbridge wells says...

Dear Kate, thanks for using my photo, I presume a large cheque is on its way ?
Dear Kate, thanks for using my photo, I presume a large cheque is on its way ? disgusted tunbridge wells

Comments are closed on this article.

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree