THE DEMOLITION of a historic mill building in Otley has been branded “tragic” by angry Otley residents.

The property at the former Garnett’s paper mill site, which faces out over the River Wharfe, is being knocked down as part of a 194-home redevelopment.

Part of the main mill building, it was originally meant to be kept under the terms of the Garnett Wharfe scheme’s planning permission.

Developers David Wilson Homes, however, announced earlier this year that it had become ‘unsound’ and would be demolished to make way for a visitor centre and flats.

Michael Hollings, of Farnley Lane, knows the site better than most, as he was an employee at Garnett’s for more than 40 years.

He said: “The part they’re getting rid of now, the old mill building, is where I used to work and I find it disgusting that they’re knocking it down, because all that was supposed to be saved.

“They could have put a new business in there, the property is safe enough.

“The part facing the weir is hundreds of years old and sound.

“I find it farcical too hear it’s ‘not safe’.”

Another local resident, who did not wish to be identified, said: “These buildings have been here for hundreds of years and are part of the town; it’s tragic developers can do this. Developers need to work hand in hand with us in the community, or else Otley will be overwhelmed by all the new developments coming and no longer be the lovely market town it is now.”

David Wilson Homes Yorkshire West, on the other hand, is insisting its development will prove an asset to the town.

Head of land, David Coe, said: “We are fully committed to developing Garnett Wharfe in a sympathetic manner that respects the form and character of the former mill buildings, and have already spent millions in remediation and key infrastructure.

“The mill buildings are not listed and we have secured full planning and conservation area approval for their demolition and replacement, with a new high quality scheme, with the re-use of stone from the buildings where possible.

“A programme of archaeological recording will take place before the erection of a new apartment block with visitor centre, cafe, fish pass, riverside walks, and high quality public piazza, along with a new hydroelectric turbine to generate electricity from the weir.”

Stressing that the former Garnett office building was being retained, and converted into a restaurant, he added: “The visitor centre will be created on the ground floor of the new apartments, providing space to chart the history of the mill.

“Platforms will be provided for residents, tourists and schools to view the hydroelectric facility, which is forecast to generate enough energy to make the development carbon neutral on an offset basis.

“We are also creating a new commercial building to be delivered by a local developer, and the first of 49 new affordable homes will be delivered later this year.”