Stalybridge's Ray Mill to be demolished

The mill in Tameside that went up in flames over the weekend is going to have to be demolished.

Firefighters were called to Ray Mill on Clarence Street in Stalybridge just before midnight on Saturday (17th March 2018).

Tameside Council's issued a statement saying:

"Due to the extensive damage caused by the fire, the mill is now structurally unsound and demolition will begin as soon as safe, which is expected to be Monday morning. Road closures will remain in place on Clarence Street and Tame Street and on some surrounding roads until further notice.

"Disruption is likely to continue for at least a week as the demolition progresses and the area is made safe. The extent of road closures will be minimised but the safety of the public while demolition is under way remains paramount.

“We wish to extend our thanks to those who worked extremely hard in very challenging conditions to bring the fire under control and to ensure the safety of the public, particularly the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.

“We also want to recognise the efforts of those who have worked throughout the night to ensure that 80 buses could be removed from near-by transport depot to ensure that disruption to public transport is minimised.

“As the council’s main operational depot is next to the seriously damaged building, we will make all possible efforts to ensure that key services such as gritting and waste collection continue and to minimise disruption. This will be dependent on building surveys and safety considerations.”

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has launched an investigation into what started the blaze.