Ebor Mills in Ebor Lane, Haworth

The boss of a mill destroyed in a massive blaze today reassured his workforce over the firm’s future as demolition began on the factory. Timothy Parkinson, chairman of Airedale Springs, which owns Ebor Mills in Ebor Lane, Haworth, said the company would continue.
Many of the 44 people employed by the spring manufacturer had feared for their livelihoods.
But Mr Parkinson said today: “We had a meeting with the staff this morning. I told them that it was sad that it occurred, but reassured them that the insurance people are on with the job and in the long-term the company will continue.”

Structural engineers from Bradford Council made the decision to start the Victorian mill’s demolition after the blaze burned itself out.
The company has found a temporary home at The Masonic Lodge in Mill Hey.
At the height of the fire, flames could be seen leaping from the top three floors of the six-storey building and smoke billowed across the valley.

More than 70 firefighters were involved in bringing the fire under control following reports of the blaze at 8.20pm on Saturday.

West Yorkshire’s assistant chief fire officer Martyn Redfearne previously told the Telegraph & Argus the building could have been saved had its sprinkler system been working.

A West Yorkshire Fire Service spokesman said fire investigation officers were working with insurance investigators to establish the cause of the blaze.

e-mail: marc.meneaud@telegraphandargus.co.uk


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