Petition for demolition of 'unsafe' hat factory
BBCA petition has been created calling for a derelict building in Warwickshire to be demolished "without further delay".
Residents described how part of the Britannia Mill in Atherstone blew down at the weekend due to the strong winds of Storm Darragh.
Rhona Millard said it was the second time in about18 months part of the building on Coleshill Road had fallen into the street.
North Warwickshire Borough Council said its building control service undertook "extensive work" at the site over the weekend to make the building safe.
The site currently has planning permission for around 70 apartments with extra-care provisions.
The BBC has contacted HTC Homes, believed to be the owners, for comment.
The Hat Factory, as it is locally known, closed in 1999, ending the town's long history as a major centre for the British hatting industry.
It is believed that Tommy Cooper's famous fez was made there.
Since the factory's closure, the Grade II listed building has stood empty.
More than 290 people have signed the petition calling for it to be demolished immediately.
Julie Nicholls wrote: "It's completely unsafe and only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt."
Ms Millard said she walked along the path just 15 minutes before the debris fell.
She said, had she been much later: "It would have been death... with that coming down on you".
The council said it would consider further action once it had carried out further demolition work and then completed a building inspection.
"That will include discussions with the owner," a spokesperson added.
The demolition work is scheduled on Wednesday, with Coleshill Road to be closed to traffic.
The authority confirmed planning permission and listed building consent for the site allowed "significant demolition" with retention of "historic and architectural characteristics".
It added the owner's contractors would also visit later in the week.
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