Police have met with the owners of Tonedale Mill over safety concerns at the site. Representatives from Avon and Somerset Police were accompanied by officials from the fire brigade and Somerset Council in a meeting with the building's owners held on Friday, July 21. 

The meeting came after a spate of incidents of trespass, arson and criminal damage at the grade II listed heritage site, resulting in police and fire crews being called out on a number of occasions. 

After a meeting with authorities, site owners, Mancraft Ltd, gave assurances that security at the site would be stepped up. Police said they made recommendations to the owners, but added it is the owners who are responsible for site security.

A spokesperson for the police said: “We are aware of a number of recent incidents of antisocial behaviour at a derelict building on the Tonedale Mill site in Wellington.

"The site is owned by a private company and it is responsible for managing security.

"A meeting was held on Friday, in which representatives from Avon and Somerset Police, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue plus Somerset Council made security recommendations to the site's owners to help prevent people from accessing it, on the grounds of safety.

"We have been assured security patrols have been increased and it was agreed we will make them aware of any calls we receive through our control room relating to people trespassing on the site. Trespass is a civil offence and would be for the company to manage through its own security, rather than police.

"The neighbourhood team however will continue to conduct high-visibility patrols in the areas near to the site."

Frequent trespass by groups of youths has spiked fears of a serious injury or even death as a consequence of building’s dilapidated state. 

One local resident, who spoke to the Wellington Weekly anonymously, told of youths clambering along the mill’s roof and across its scaffold in recent days and weeks.

The resident's concern though, was around the dangers to the trespassers associated with the building's condition. They said: “People are running through the building and across the roof, and clambering across the scaffolding. 

“The mill’s wooden floors might have so much water ingress – they’ll have no idea if it will just give way or not and some of the scaffolding is the same.” The resident was critical of the company, who he said should be billed for the cost of emergency service callouts to the site: 

“The developer should be sent a bill for every visit from the police and the fire service because they are doing the job of a security company. 

“My fear is that somebody could be killed. A few years ago there was a girl who fell from quite a height in the mill and was airlifted to Bristol. 

“The authorities should force the owner to make the site secure.” 

Cllr Mike McGuffie of Wellington Town Council also questioned whether the site’s security was as good as it ought to be. Cllr McGuffie said the council was concerned about the status quo, and was looking for a way to move forward on the issue:

“As far as the council is concerned we are looking at getting in touch with other stakeholders to see what we can do about bringing people together to find a way forward for the mill. 

“Before someone gets seriously hurt the security has to be a lot more foolproof than it has been for the last couple of weeks with these incidents. 

“What their intentions are going forward are something we will need to look in to. We are aware of it and we are concerned.” 

The mill was a focus of a recent meeting of the town council’s environment and heritage committee, held on July 18. It was agreed that a working group should be set up to find a long-term solution toward developing the mill. 

The group also warned that with school holidays starting, the risk that children would trespass on the site was heightened:

“Now that the school holidays are starting, it is very important that children and young people understand that there is a very real danger of serious injury or death inside the site due to the condition of the walls, roofs, floors and roadways.  

“It is very important that children and young people keep out of the site. We would like them to be aware of this and also that parents tell them they need to keep out for their own safety.” 

The increasing frequency of incidents at the site has sparked concern among many residents, some of whom took to social media to share their views. In a Facebook group for Wellington residents, Carla Whiterow said parents were to blame, saying: “They will only learn when they have an accident, god forbid that should happen but it’s bound to happen a some point unfortunately.” 

“They will do it again and again because nothing happens to them even when the police catch them. I think in these instances the owner should invoice their parents for damage caused, that will focus minds.”

Vickey Jayne Cox said the site should be made more secure: “The landlord could get some security. It is not always down to police.”

Mancraft Ltd have planning permission approved in 2006 to convert the derelict mill into flats. Some building work took place at that time, but no progress has been made since. 

Mancraft Ltd could not be reached for comment.