Firefighters this morning attended a major blaze at vandal-hit Farnley Sports and Social Club.
Five fire appliances from Stanningley, Leeds, Gipton, Hunslet and other specialist equipment and officers from around the county attended the derelict site off Butt Lane, Farnley at 5.28am. Firefighters used breathing apparatus to tackle the blaze, which led to the closure of Butt Lane for several hours this morning.
A firefighter on the scene said the remains of the building were unsafe and it was likely to be demolished. It’s understood no-one was hurt in the blaze, which police and fire chiefs are now investigating.
The incident came just two days after the latest blaze at the site, which has suffered from vandalism and arson since Farnley Sports and Social Club closed down last December.
Residents reckon this is NINTH time the site has been the subject of an apparent arson attack.
One resident told the Dispatch on the scene this morning:
“Fire brigade are always out – there seems to have been fires almost every other week recently so I’m glad it’s happened like this. At least now we’ll get a bit of piece and quiet. This is the end of it.”
As previously reported by the Dispatch, a disagreement between developers wanting to build houses on site and Leeds City Council planners was holding up the demolition of the building.
Earlier this month developers Farnley Sports and Social Club submitted a new formal planning application for demolition of the club and eight dwellings to be built on the site.
UPDATED: Monday, 1.35pm: The YEP is reporting Butt Lane is still closed at both ends following the incident and could remain out of action for the next three days.
UPDATED Monday, 2.52pm:
Butt Lane, Farnley closed due to a fire incident. Closure to remain til tomorrow morning, diversions are in place, bus services re-routed
— Leeds Emergency (@leedsemergency) August 17, 2015
As a resident living so close to this site I have to say a big thank you to the fire fighters and police for responding so quickly to these incidents and keeping things under control.could have been so much worse without you.thank you guys.