An inspection of the charred wreckage of an historic mill, destroyed by a fire on New Year’s Day, has revealed that its walls are unstable in places.

Bradford Council officers have found that some stones are in a precarious position high on the walls of Dalton Mills in Dalton Lane, Keighley. To ensure public safety, dangerous sections have been fenced off.

Property owner, Magna Holdings, is to prepare a “method statement” outlining how it will address the safety issues.

Council principal building control surveyor Justin Booth said: “Because of its heritage, the Council would want as much of it to be preserved as is practicable.

“We are asking the owners to provide a ‘method statement’ to describe how they intend to make safe the fire-damaged section of the complex.

“The part of the mill that was affected by the fire was the short wing which joined two larger blocks together. Fortunately, it was empty. The roof and the internal walls of this junction wing have been severely damaged by the fire.

“There are large stone decorative features – called corbels – which are still precariously hanging on at the top of the stone walls, and even the walls are unstable in places, so the area has been fenced off.”

Digby Lovel, a Magna Holdings director, said the company wanted to conserve as much of the damaged mill as possible and were aware of the dangerous section. He said: “We have had a very constructive meeting with officers at Bradford Council and we are very relieved the fire was so effectively contained by the efforts of Keighley firefighters.

“Our staff on site are working hard to ensure there is no disruption to the daily workings at the mill though the public footpath along School Lane will be closed until such time as we are assured the remaining structure has been made safe.”