TROUBLE AT T'MILL

Antisocial activities on the site of the old Bridgefield and Britannia Mills at the bottom of Bridge Street have been a constant concern to the residents of Bridgefield Close who face a barrage of abuse and antagonistic behaviour along the perimeter wall. Walkers along the canal have also reported chunks of loose masonry being pelted at them across the water from the site.

Cabinet member for Housing, Cllr Clare Cleary, said, "We have had repeated complaints of antisocial behaviour on the spare land at Britannia Mill and Bridgefield Mill in Rishton which is impacting on the residents of Bridgefield Close and canal users. This has been an ongoing situation, particularly in the summer, for several years."

She went on, "The local police wish to intervene by contacting the owners of the land and asking them to do something about it. We are now looking for anything we can do from our side to lean on the landowners and secure the site as it is currently wide open and a complete mess."