“I think everybody in Elland is just sick to death of it” - Residents call for action over Elland “eyesore”

The former Tom Chambers factory on Westgate has been derelict for 22 years, and people who live next to the building say action is needed now to stop young people climbing onto the structure, which they describe as an “eyesore”.

Margot Wainwright, 73, has lived next to the building just over 10 years and says the building caught fire four years ago.

“Myself and my husband were among the people there when the building was condemned more than 10 years ago,” she said.

“Since then, nothing’s happened. It’s totally derelict and extremely dangerous.

“The whole site is such a mess. We manage to get it cleaned up every now and then by the owner but it’s just gone on and on, and kids are getting braver and braver because it’s getting more derelict so it’s getting easier to get into.

“It’s an eyesore and I think everybody in Elland is just sick to death of it.

“It can attract rats because there’s Dobson’s sweet factory and a fish and chip shop next door to it.

“I’d like to see it totally knocked down and the site tidied up.

“They can argue over planing permission later, but for safety’s sake, just take it down and clean it up.

“There’s 24 flats here and everyone is sick to death of it. We’re at our wits end.”

David McCorie, who owns the flat next door and the adjacent Oliver’s fish and chip shop, said: “The building has been derelict for 22 years. It has not been touched in any shape or form.

“Children play on it, jump on it, the roof has collapsed in parts and other parts they’ve smashed to bits.”

“They climbed from that building onto mine and wrecked my roof and onto another building and started to damage that one.

“The council and building control say it’s a police issue and it just goes round and round.

“It could easily be boarded up properly.

“These kids pull their trousers down and show their bums, they stick their fingers up, they swear at people when they’re told to come down.

“It’s just disgusting.”

Mr McCorie estimates the police have been called out more than 40 times in the last six months to deal with anti-social behaviour at the site.

“It needs demolishing or boarding up properly,” he said.

“If one of the children fell through the roof they’d kill themselves.

“The police won’t do anything, the council won’t do anything about it but we shouldn’t have to put up with it.”

In a statement to the Courier, Tom Chambers said: “Planning has been submitted for a 12-house development on the former Tom Chambers site, which would see the former factory demolished in order to make way for the new development.

“This would represent an exciting and valuable contribution to Elland town centre by providing much needed quality housing usually seen in larger cities.

“The high quality of design provided by Detail Architects has been informed in part by many award-winning precedents and would transform the derelict site into an attractive development that compliments the surrounding architecture and conservation area.

“The innovative houses would provide for a high standard of living and have been designed with a focus on quality and sustainability, providing an exciting opportunity for first time buyers and families alike.

“Newstone Group Ltd has worked closely alongside the owners in order to secure the necessary planning permission that will provide value to the area and much needed commerce to local businesses.

“As the project manager, myself and the owners are conscious that the site has been the site of undesirable anti-social behaviour. Developing the site in the high-quality way proposed and having it occupied once more would go a long way to eliminating the type of behaviour that the disused factory buildings currently attract.

“We truly believe that the site would provide a neighbourhood and community feel that fits in with Elland’s wider development goals and its “next chapter” initiative. Due to this we are pro-actively working with Calderdale Council to secure the necessary permission that would allow us to make a positive contribution to local residents. 

“We are hopeful that the current application will be passed imminently and give us the opportunity to deliver a valuable contribution to Elland.

“Given our eagerness to develop the site we hope that we will have the support of local residents and businesses who have the interests of Elland at the forefront of their minds.”

Coun Jenny Lynn, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Services and Communities, said: “We take all reports of anti-social behaviour very seriously, as we know it can have a really negative impact on local people’s lives. We want to reassure residents that we are doing everything we can to tackle the issues at this derelict building.

“Our community safety wardens continue to patrol the area regularly and won’t hesitate to take action to stop anti-social behaviour. A temporary CCTV camera is being considered for the area and other preventative measures are being installed. We are working closely with the police, and also with the building owner to try to secure the site. The current planning application for the site is going through the consideration process.”