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Fear as firebugs hit derelict house again

6/ 9/2008

FIREFIGHTERS are calling for a building to be made secure after it was targeted by arsonists for the second time in a week.

Officers battled a blaze at the derelict Dunsterville House, Manchester Road, that started in a central stairway on the first floor on Wednesday night and spread to the second floor of the three-storey building.

Firefighters are concerned they could fall through the floors of the building, which was formerly offices and before that a grand home, because they are full of holes.

Crew commander Chris Shuttleworth from Rochdale fire station said: "It is like a colander. There are huge gaps in the floor which makes it very dangerous to enter. You could step through into open space, especially in the smoke and darkness, so we have to move extremely carefully.

"Some of the holes might be as a result of vandalism or part of the demolition process."

He added: "The building is insecure, a derelict open site and people are able to enter by an open rear doorway.

"We have been there twice in the last week and we will no doubt be there again if it is not secured."

Firemen were called out to a previous arson attack, which started near the same stairway and spread to the second floor, at midnight on Thursday 28 August.

Earlier this month councillors threw out a plan that would have seen the building demolished and 11 new houses built on the site.

Councillors Mohammed Sharif and Angela Coric and at least four local residents had concerns about a lack of parking in nearby High Barn Close, which they believe would be made worse if 11 new houses were built.

They agreed that Dunsterville House was an ‘eyesore’ but they thought the development proposed by Rima Investments would be too large for the site.

However, they hinted they might view a bid for fewer houses more sympathetically.