A taskforce set up to help protect Stoke-on-Trent's heritage buildings will 'act at pace' to protect them from arson and accidental fires, according to council leaders.

The group brings together the city council, fire service and police to identify at-risk buildings while working with landlords to ensure properties are secured.  

The council says this will include ensuring landlords are meeting their legal responsibilities to heritage buildings. As well, the use of planning enforcement notices may be considered.

 The taskforce builds on current work to shut down illegal cannabis factories in Stoke-on-Trent and following fires at the former Wade Ceramics factory, The Leopard Hotel, Longton's Crown Hotel and most recently a fire at a derelict building on The Strand in July.

Cllr Chris Robinson, cabinet member for housing, planning and governance at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "The council is committed to safeguarding our heritage buildings.   

"That includes working with private landlords to ensure their buildings are safe and secure – and taking action where necessary.  

"We have already seen the effect that targeted, joined-up working can make through campaigns like Weed Them Out. 

"This group will act at pace, and at the end of a period of review we will also identify any further opportunities to help protect our heritage buildings, which are part of the fabric, history and character of the city." 

Council and police officers will be deployed in known anti-social behaviour hotspot areas where heritage buildings are felt to be at potential risk.  

There have been calls from the UK's national fire safety organisation, the Fire Protection Association, for councils across the country to create 'derelict building databases' in a bid to come up with a plan for how to deal with these properties going forward.

Ian Read, Head of Prevent and Protect at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "These incidents can have a significant impact on local life, the environment and emergency resources, and taking steps to prevent fires in the first place is key in making sure we can keep local communities safe across Stoke-on-Trent." 

Inspector James Howard, from Staffordshire Police, said: "We're continuing to carry out visible, proactive patrols in hotspot locations for anti-social behaviour and other crime as part of our problem-solving policing approach, making sure officers are in the right place at the right time to tackle crime effectively and to keep people safe."