Mill owners in fundraising appeal for repairs

The owners of a 14th Century mill are trying to raise funds to pay for urgent repairs to its water wheel.

David Fletcher, 91, bought the mill in Hebden Bridge in the 1970s and spent years renovating it as a "labour of love".

He had a new water wheel installed and added solar panels and heat pumps to power the building, which now houses several workshops as well as a cafe and restaurant space.

Mr Fletcher, a former lecturer in environmental science, hopes to raise £10,000 to fix the green energy sources at the former mill.

Mr Fletcher, his daughter Trudi and finance and operations manager Ross Pearson said they would love to see the repairs carried out in the next few months, with a view to reopening the restaurant in the Summer.

Trudi, who remembers her father restoring the mill when she was a child, said: "His passion has always been about the environment and that's why he really wants to support renewable energy."

Mr Fletcher added: "I like it, and people come in to look at it and see how it all works. But at the moment they are a bit disappointed to find that you can see all the bits but you can't see them working.

"We need to get it going again as quickly as possible."

Mr Pearson added: "David puts the funds in where he can, but to get everything done we really need an injection of about £10,000."

He said the 1314 mill was a "treasured local landmark" which had its water wheel restored in 1998, but its wooden paddles had become rotten over time and now needed replacing.

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