Fire at Oldmills sparks calls for public ownership, though Elgin councillors say finances are lacking
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A HUGE fire at the historic Oldmills building has sparked fresh calls for ownership change.
Elgin residents have called for the "dangerous eyesore" mill to be taken into public hands and restored as nearby residents fear for their safety.
The fire, which started around 3.30am on Monday, was the third to plague the nearly 800 year-old mill in the last decade.
Kerri Morrison of Oldmills Road lives by the mill with her fiancé and daughter (7) and they were evacuated after the mill fire took hold.
Her cat, Hamish, has been missing since the beginning of the blaze and she worries he was caught in the mill.
She said: "The mill is a piece of history, and it would be really great to see it restored to its former glory, rather than the dangerous eyesore it has become.
"I am just heartbroken that my cat has suffered as a result and angry that my house could've gone up in flames with it, with my family inside.
"I really don’t know enough about it and I don’t want to insult anyone – but I will say that a change in ownership is probably required."
Another Elgin resident said: "It is a very interesting and historic building and it is a catastrophe, really, how it has been allowed to go to ruin.
"Things would have been much better if it had been taken over by the Council."
Moray Council building standards officers have been investigating the building and talking with the owner, but have not shared plans for the site.
Elected councillors were frustrated about the fire, but also doubted whether the Council had the necessary finances to take control of the mill.
Elgin Councillor and Moray Council leader Graham Leadbitter said: "Firstly, news of another fire at the Oldmills is very concerning and obviously very distressing for the community.
"The issue of how the mill is being used and how it will be used in the future is clearly a very thorny one.
"At the current moment it is in private ownership and this means it is the responsibility of the owner to make sure it is safe.
"There is a wider debate about what the future of the mill could or should be."
Elgin Councillor John Divers said: "I've had many issues with the mill in the past, and none in a positive sense.
"I've had numerous complaints from local residents about the condition of the site over the last 15 years and we've held numerous meetings.
"It used to be a vibrant place with a visitor attraction, but it has become a dumping ground, which has upset locals.
"The way council finances are, I'm not sure if it could be brought back into council hands."
The Elgin public have called for help with the mill in the past, launching a "save our mill" protest in 2013, when the building was in much a better condition than it is currently.
Residents have complained for years about mess and seemingly-abandoned objects on the site, which led to the Scottish Government ordering the owner to clear up in 2017.
For Kerri, however, the mill problem is more about safety than mess or conservation.
Retelling the story of the night, Kerri said: "We sat in our car and watched the flames as Callum shouted for Hamish, since we knew he was outside at this point.
"At 4am we were advised to leave the property for fear of spread or collapse of the mill.
"The condition of the property was inevitably going to attract fire one way or another - and historically has a number of times over the years.
"We last saw Hamish at around tea time on Sunday and he has never been gone for more than 24 hours.
"We are all incredibly worried about him now, especially our 7 year old daughter who keeps asking when he will come home."
