UK fire death house to be demolished
Derby City Council leader Paul Bayliss has confirmed the council’s intention to knock down the house where Mick Philpott killed his six children by torching the property as they slept .
The plan will be to consult the local community on what should replace the buildings.
The charred shell of 18 Victory Road, in Derby, has been standing boarded-up and empty since the fire. The house will demolished, British councillors have promised.
Last week, Philpott was jailed for life for the manslaughter of his children, Jade Philpott, 10, and her brothers John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, Jayden, five, and Duwayne, 13. He has been ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years before he is considered for release.
His wife, Mairead, and their friend, Paul Mosley, were each jailed for 17 years.
An online petition has already been launched urging the local authority to install a memorial garden.
Council leader Paul Bayliss told the Derby Telegraph: “Who would want to live in a house where six children have died and why would you want to live next door to a house where six children have died?
The house, which was focus of tributes to the six children again last week, has stood as a sombre reminder of the terrible events of the early hours of May 11 last year.
The jury at Nottingham Crown Court found that Philpott, 56, his 32-year-old wife, and Mosley, 46, started the fire in a bid to frame Lisa Willis, Philpott’s former girlfriend.
Willis and her children used to live with the Philpotts but had moved out weeks earlier.
Major fire at Glasgow Steiner School in Yorkhill
A major fire at an independent school in the west end of Glasgow broke out last week and up to 60 children were led to safety.
55 firefighters and 10 appliances were deployed to prevent the fire spreading and Incident Commander, ACO Lewis Ramsay said: “The initial crews have worked tirelessly to tackle the blaze and operations are ongoing to contain the fire.
“Members of the local community can be assured that fire crews will continue to work relentlessly until this incident is brought to a safe conclusion.
“An effective multi-agency approach with police and the local authority is ongoing to manage the incident and reassure local residents.”
Following the evacuation, pupils were taken to a local community centre. No-one is thought to have been injured.
A joint investigation by Strathclyde Fire and Rescue and Strathclyde Police will determine the cause of the blaze that is not yet known.