COUNCIL bosses have warned that a town centre road will remain shut until the owners of a dangerous building carry out work to make it safe.

Burnley Council closed Sandygate, off Trafalgar Street, and a nearby canal towpath was closed by British Waterways after a structural survey of the Clock Tower Mill revealed it was in a dangerous condition.

The council is going to court to get an order obliging the owners, Liverpool-based developer Mill View Development, to make the building safe.

David Brown, director of development for the council, said: "We had the benefit of a structural appraisal of the mill about a month ago, which shows that it is in a very serious condition and is in potential risk of collapse. That prompted us to shut the road and close the canal towpath.

"The council is going to magistrates' court on February 5 to seek an order against the owners of the building, obliging them to make it safe. According to our review of the building, the only way to do that would be to demolish it. The building is clearly in a dreadful condition and it is a matter of public safety."

The building, which is listed, was bought by the developer 10 years ago. Several abortive planning applications have been drawn up for the site but there are no plans for it at present.

Mr Brown said: "We have been in detailed discussions with English Heritage who agree with the council's view that the building has to be cleared."

"Part of the building was destroyed by fire in 1987. The part of the building that was left standing has remained empty since then, waiting for someone to find a use or come up with a scheme for the site."

Tony Martin, development director from Mill View Developments, said they were working with the council on finding a solution to the problem before it went to court in February.

He said: "We are reviewing the situation at the moment to find a way to get the building in a safe position.

"We bought it with the idea of redeveloping it at some stage but because of the nature of the building and the problems it has caused us, nothing has yet been planned for it.

Mr Martin said he hoped a solution would be on the table for the building by mid-January.

The former cotton mill was built by the Slater family. It was a cotton and lace factory, owned by John Watts, when it was partly destroyed by fire in the late 1980s and has lain empty ever since.