A DERELICT care home which has been hit by five serious arson attacks already in 2019 is set to be demolished due to rising safety fears about its structure.
The council’s building control officers have been checking the former Belmont care home, on Lamb Lane, Monk Bretton, which was most recently set alight last Friday afternoon.
According to local police, who set the building as its priority for the coming month, youngsters have been seen by locals entering the building and an investigation has started to find out the names of those responsible.
Given the building is bordered by homes, local councillors want to speed up the demolition process to alleviate concerns residents have about more fires happening and its weakening structure which they say has been severely compromised.
A discussion will take place between police and the owner of the building next week to try and find a solution regarding what will happen to it.
If an agreement cannot be reached, the police say there are other options - including legislation which effectively forces the owner to demolish it - to move forward.
Mayor of Barnsley Coun Steve Green, who also represents the Monk Bretton ward, said: “It’s a defective building that needs demolishing or immediate work on it to make it safe.
“I think the building is beyond repair and needs bringing down. The roof has gone and it’s just not safe for those living nearby or the youths who have been seen entering the building.
“When I’ve been up I’ve not come across anyone but there’s nothing to stop people from gaining access and that’s where there’s real concern. It could collapse.”
Due to the severity of the flames at a previous fire, aerial appliances had to be drafted in from Sheffield to extinguish the fire from above as it proved too intense for firefighters working from the ground to stop.
Patrols from both PCSOs and PCs have been increased this week on different shift patterns to prioritise the area.
A spokesperson from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue confirmed last Friday’s incident was another deliberate one, with crews from Barnsley and Cudworth stations attending the scene at 4.25pm.
Firefighters spent around an hour at the scene, using hose reels to put out the fire and fans were used to clear the smoke. A resident, who did not wish to be named, urged officials to act and said the structure was standing ‘by a thread’.
“There’s been five serious fires since the start of January and it’s just not on,” she added.
“It’s becoming a weekly occurrence - police made it a priority for them last Tuesday but three days later it was on fire again.
“They can’t be here 24 hours a day so the only option is to demolish it as obviously that will stop the fires from happening.
“While it’s standing we’ll continue to go around in circles.
“Building control officers have been at the site this week but it’s standing by a thread.
“It could collapse at any time and although the youths have been seen starting fires, there’s a fear that one more fire could see it fall.
“It doesn’t bear thinking about if one gets trapped inside, but we feel that it’s a real possibility.”
Coun Roy Miller, cabinet spokesperson, told the Chronicle its building control officers have responded following each fire.
“Legislation relating to dangerous buildings requires the building owner to carry out necessary works, considered reasonable, to remove or cordon off any identified danger,” he added.
“Where the owners have been able to be contacted, they have immediately responded and, on other occasions, the council has carried works which have then been charged to the property owner.
“Ultimately it is for the owner to decide whether to increase levels of security to prevent break-ins, continue to cover the costs of securing the building following break-ins or to demolish the building.
“Our preference is for the owner to demolish and so dialogue is ongoing in order to help facilitate this.”
