Spate of fires in derelict school 'unacceptable'

A councillor is demanding action after a derelict school in Chatham caught fire for the ninth time since its closure in 2022.

Medway councillor Harinder Mahil said he feared for locals' health due to smoke exposure and called on site owner Eutopia Homes (Kent) Ltd to tackle the issue.

"It is entirely unacceptable that they have to suffer a giant mushroom cloud of smoke covering their homes," he said.

Eutopia Homes has been approached for a comment.

The most recent fire at the former St John Fisher School on 30 May, needed 10 fire engines to tackle the flames. Kent Fire and Rescue Service said it was treating the blaze at the Ordnance Street site as suspicious.

"The other Fort Pitt councillors and I are really concerned about the fact they are forced to endure this on a semi-regular basis," said Mahil, reported the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"I understand that a site as big as that is complex to keep safe, but that is the job required of the developer, no matter how complicated it may be."

Eutopia Homes applied to demolish the site and build 139 homes in March 2024, with plans being approved in May 2025.

However, work has not yet begun and the empty building has been prone to break-ins and fires.

In September, the developers were handed an order by Medway Council, the police and fire service to demolish the building.

Mahil said he asked the Chester-based developer for a meeting to discuss how to resolve the situation.

"If that does not result in clear action, I am looking into what other steps we [the local authority] can take," he said.

Local authorities have some powers to compel landowners to sort out properties when it is in the public interest.

These can include mandates to improve security and fire safety features.

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