Leicester factory fire forces evacuation of hundreds of homes

[davieG]

 

Hundreds of people have been forced from their homes in Stafford Street, Lancashire Street, St Michaels Avenue and Sandringham Avenue, all off Melton Road.

They have been taken to Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre until it is deemed safe for them to return.

Witnesses reported seeing a plume of smoke above the city and the building, which was home to several businesses, collapsing. Leicestershire Police said they did not believe anyone had been injured.

Others described the sign on the front of old factory melting and windows cracking.

Factory fire Melton Road, Leicester
Residents in the Melton Road area woke up to the blaze
Jaymini Makwana, who lives in the area, said: "I came out of the house and the building was on fire, the flames were going up in the air. Within about 10 or 15 minutes, one half of the building collapsed.

"The heat was mental. Within another 15 minutes, the other half of the building started collapsing. Leicester factory fire forces evacuation of hundreds of homes
The fire
The blaze forced the evacuation of dozens of terraced homes
A major fire at a former factory next to a petrol station in Leicester has forced the evacuation of more than 200 homes in the city.

Neighbours reported the blaze at the brick building in Melton Road, which houses several businesses and has collapsed, at about 07:15 BST.

Police have evacuated homes in four nearby streets.

The fire caused traffic problems during rush hour and a long stretch of Melton Road remains closed from Troon Way.

The fire
The factory is next to a BP filling station on Melton Road
Hundreds of people have been forced from their homes in Stafford Street, Lancashire Street, St Michaels Avenue and Sandringham Avenue, all off Melton Road.

They have been taken to Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre until it is deemed safe for them to return.

Witnesses reported seeing a plume of smoke above the city and the building, which was home to several businesses, collapsing. Leicestershire Police said they did not believe anyone had been injured.

Others described the sign on the front of old factory melting and windows cracking.

Factory fire Melton Road, Leicester
Residents in the Melton Road area woke up to the blaze
Jaymini Makwana, who lives in the area, said: "I came out of the house and the building was on fire, the flames were going up in the air. Within about 10 or 15 minutes, one half of the building collapsed.

"The heat was mental. Within another 15 minutes, the other half of the building started collapsing. Everyone was in the street shocked and worried which way it was going to fall."

The collapsed factory
The blaze was brought under control but firefighters were unable to save the building
BBC Radio Leicester's Helen McCarthy said the fire now appeared to be under control but at one stage the flames leapt several storeys into the air.

At its height, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service had 10 engines at the blaze.

Raj Baddhan tweeted: "Waking up to a huge building fire near Woodbridge Rd in Leicester. Avoid the roads nearby. Building has collapsed."

Smoke from the fire
The smoke from the fire could be seen from across Leicester
Mehds Thakor was on his way to work when he noticed the building was on fire.

"At first there was smoke coming out of the building's windows," he said. "Gradually it got thicker and thicker and then there were flames which shot right up into the air."

The former factory is now home to several businesses including a clothing company and a fabric printing firm.

Saif Choudhury, whose family owns the building, said he began to well up when he saw it had been destroyed.

"I got a phone call in the morning that the factory had burnt down. I immediately jumped out of bed. I've just come here, I can't even describe the feelings that are going through my body and my mind.

"All I can see is what was such a nice, beautiful building fallen down."

Andy Galway, from the fire service, said it had been a significant incident and a "rapidly developing fire" which was still being tackled but was now under control.

Officers are expected to remain at the site late into the evening.

[Trav Le Bleu]

Note to Midland Red, this is what goes on in Leicester these days.

[Babylon]

Went past this morning on the way to work, was pretty mental.

[Webbo]

Isn't it a furniture shop now?

[purpleronnie]

Isn't it a furniture shop now?

So the upside is you get a nice burnt wood smell.

[Webbo]

So the upside is you get a nice burnt wood smell.

Maybe I should have said "was" a furniture shop.

 

A nice big plot ripe for redevelopment now. A largish block of flats there in a couple of years time.

[davieG]

Maybe I should have said "was" a furniture shop.

 

A nice big plot ripe for redevelopment now. A largish block of flats there in a couple of years time.

Well it wont be student flats unless Sir Pete puts in a continuous cycle lane in from DMU.

[FoxesAreBlue]

I saw the huge plume of smoke as I drove to work this morning and thought to myself 'I'll wait until this appears on Foxestalk to find out what it was'

You didn't disappoint!

[Beliall]

I saw the huge plume of smoke as I drove to work this morning and thought to myself 'I'll wait until this appears on Foxestalk to find out what it was'

You didn't disappoint!

[Bellend Sebastian]

Was there a massive group of divs gathered round it, staring into the flames? When a factory caught fire on Western Road a few years ago, I raced from my house a few streets away to see the spectacle, only to find a huge throng of morons and the horrible realisation that I had become the sort of person that looks at a fire

[Rincewind]

If the tenants have to leave their homes and become homeless do they  according to some posters logic, become tramps, alcoholics and drug addicts? because they have nowhere to stay.

 

I hope this has not happen and they are able to return soon.Must be very distressing for them/

[danny.]

If the tenants have to leave their homes and become homeless do they  according to some posters logic, become tramps, alcoholics and drug addicts? because they have nowhere to stay.

 

I hope this has not happen and they are able to return soon.Must be very distressing for them/

 

Posts like this don't help your cause Ken

[Rincewind]

What cause? I was trying to think in black and white terms. Of course I son't think like that and I expect the majority of people don't but how many people have said on here that homeless is a life choice? The above is just one of a thousand ways th\t you c\n become homeless.

 

Apologies if I offended anyone.

[Beliall]

What cause? I was trying to think in black and white terms. Of course I son't think like that and I expect the majority of people don't but how many people have said on here that homeless is a life choice? The above is just one of a thousand ways th\t you c\n become homeless.

 

Apologies if I offended anyone.

 

 

well, no actually, all those people would be re housed temporarilly by the state while repairs were made.

[midland_red]

Note to Midland Red, this is what goes on in Leicester these days.

 

well yes!! Not the only one either (think fires at Frisby Jarvis and Friars MIll/Donisthorpe - both listed buildings, plus a damaging arson attack at Corahs in 2012).

BIG QUESTION - why are there so many empty factory buildings around? Not just in Leicester, it's the same in all Midlands and Northern cities. Note - not why did industry close down, that's well known, but why still empty?????

interesting because in London,. such buildings were converted to expensive apartments years ago, and there's only a few cases of that in Leicester.

I asked the question of a mate who is a director of a major building firm. His explanation was interesting and unexpected.

If any foxes are itnterested in knowing...I'll post it!

[danny.]

I am interested. I'd suspect it's the location and the fact that the property market is so much cheaper here people prefer to live in houses than flats.

[midland_red]

I am interested. I'd suspect it's the location and the fact that the property market is so much cheaper here people prefer to live in houses than flats.

 

sort of yes. here goes than..

1) the price of property is determined by land value essentially - the cost of construction isn't actually much cheaper in Leicester than in London.

2) refurbishing existing property attracts VAT at 20 per cent, new build doesnt!! So any urban refurbishment is automatically 20 per cent more expensive

3) well meant environmental legislation means that builders are under pressure to make buildings carbon neutral. That's why so many new builds are tiny with low ceilings and small windows and smallrooms - they're more energy efficient. So converting an old factory means extra costs here too.

 

Result?

cities have empty buildings- often iconic in their nature (like the old Corahs plant) while the suburbs are pepperred with cheap and nasty new build - some fine examples to be seen around countesthorpe and blaby.

 

Conculsions?

1) every time that a politician (of whatever party) talks urban regeneration, they are unmitigated dishonest liars. If there were serious they would scrap 20 per cent VAT on conversions. (worth paying in London due to high land values - not In Leicester, Sheffield or Manchester)

2) environmental legislation is subject to a law of unexpected consequences - by discouraging conversions where land values (and hence profitability) are low, they encourage new build in nsuburbs where people are car dependent, and demanding of new infrastructure, thus causing far more environnmental damage.

[FoxesAreBlue]

I'm interested Midland_red

[Rincewind]

well, no actually, all those people would be re housed temporarilly by the state while repairs were made.

Yes they would fit in the vulnerable section. Like many others/ What is happening now is Housing options is turning people away saying they do not qualify and when the figures are gathered those in charge say Oh goody the homeless figures have gone down we don't need the hostels we'll slash another 20% off the budget and spend the money digging up another road.

From what I have been told by someone attending a housing/services/budget council meeting there will be further cuts to services meaning less staff to deal with the residents of hostels and helping them into their own places,

 

Anyway I was not serious.I just get frustrated sometimes at the stereotyped comment by people who have no experience or even researched the subject. They make assumptions based on their POV and will not give a little.  I have a copy of the rules and requirements for anyone that needs temporary accommodation

[FoxesAreBlue]

I just get frustrated sometimes at the stereotyped comment by people who have no experience or even researched the subject.

FFS YOU BOUGHT THE SUBJECT OF HOMLESSNESS UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christ Almighty you're frustrating sometimes. You know I used to give change and buy coffees for homeless people all the time as I work in town and see a few regular faces but now I simply can't be arsed because it just reminds me of your rambling on.

It's not their fault, but hey, life's a shit house - the one exception is my Big Issue man who I buy from, I can't read the rag, it's beyond awful, but the fella is pretty decent so he gets my cash.

Your like these irritating adverts that make me resent the companies that are being advertised (I'm looking at you Boots).

[Rincewind]

sorry bout that

[FoxesAreBlue]

No you're not, don't patronise me.

[Rincewind]

I am. I do not come on here to upset people Not bothered when fun is made of me but i am not happy that freinds and colleagues who have knowledge and experience of certain things are called liars and glory hunters.

 

My post may have been inappropriate but I had just returned from a meeting where I heard that the council were planning to make further cuts to services which will put more vulnerable further in the mire. And that report reminded me of reasons I had put forward before why people can become homeless and has been dismissed as rubbish.

 

So sorry again for being me.