Rossendale Borough Council

Local government · English district council

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First report 9 Feb 2026•Latest report 9 Feb 2026

Reports, concerns and published responses

Reports over time

Reports naming this recipient by issue year.

* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.

Reports
1

Naming this recipient

Published responses
100%

Found for named reports

Concerns addressed
2

Across all linked responses

Stated actions
5

Described in responses

Concerns and recipient responses

Statements from Rossendale Borough Council linked to the concerns in each report. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

  1. Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen

    AI-generated summary

    Brody O'Brien · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    On 7 October 2025, Brody O'Brien, aged 12, died after being found hanging at a redacted location in Rochdale. Concerns included that the area remained unsecured and could be accessed to secure a ligature, and that emergency services faced difficult and treacherous access while carrying equipment.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Rossendale Borough Council; that does not assign responsibility.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Unsafe and difficult emergency access to the location

    Wider context from the report

    “(2) Emergency services found access to the ████████ particularly with their equipment, difficult and treacherous. They had to scale a wall and once inside, the ground was very uneven and dangerous posing a significant risk. ”
    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Rossendale Borough Council; that does not assign responsibility.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure to secure the accessible location against ligature use

    Wider context from the report

    “(1) Brody was able to access the ████████ as it remains unsecured and use the ████████ to secure a ligature. ”
    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Request the wider Albert Mill site owner to take action on their land to help prevent access.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “The Council is also taking some additional steps to assist in the prevention of access by the removal of some trees on Council owned land in close proximity to the building and looking how further access from the footpath could be prevented but this would have to take into account current rights of way etc. The owner of the wider Albert Mill site has been helpful in his approach and has confirmed that we can take access over the land; we have certain rights of access in any event but this has been appreciated. The Council will also be requesting that they also take some action on their land to assist in the prevention of access and to this end the Council will keep you informed.”

    Source location

    2026-0084 - Response from Rossendale Borough Council
    Page 2 · response
    Published 13 February 2026

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Coordinate with the HSE and landowner, attend the site, and obtain quotes for securing works in default.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “The Council has been working alongside ████████ of the Health and Safety Executive and officers have spoken with him both over the telephone and in person on site. The HSE has no involvement with Sunnyside Works as this does not form part of the active site but ████████ has been very helpful in offering advice and assistance as to safety measures that could be taken on site.”

    Source location

    2026-0084 - Response from Rossendale Borough Council
    Page 1 · response
    Published 13 February 2026

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Assess how further access from the footpath can be prevented, taking account of existing rights of way.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “The Council is also taking some additional steps to assist in the prevention of access by the removal of some trees on Council owned land in close proximity to the building and looking how further access from the footpath could be prevented but this would have to take into account current rights of way etc. The owner of the wider Albert Mill site has been helpful in his approach and has confirmed that we can take access over the land; we have certain rights of access in any event but this has been appreciated. The Council will also be requesting that they also take some action on their land to assist in the prevention of access and to this end the Council will keep you informed.”

    Source location

    2026-0084 - Response from Rossendale Borough Council
    Page 2 · response
    Published 13 February 2026

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Issue a statutory notice requiring the site owner to secure Sunnyside Works against ground-level access.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “As requested, a copy of the report was sent to the owner of Sunnyside Works, ████████ together with a s29 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. This notice required ████████ to secure the building by either boarding all openings accessible from ground level or by provision of perimeter fencing to prevent access.”

    Source location

    2026-0084 - Response from Rossendale Borough Council
    Page 1 · response
    Published 13 February 2026

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Remove trees on Council-owned land near the building to help prevent access.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “The Council is also taking some additional steps to assist in the prevention of access by the removal of some trees on Council owned land in close proximity to the building and looking how further access from the footpath could be prevented but this would have to take into account current rights of way etc. The owner of the wider Albert Mill site has been helpful in his approach and has confirmed that we can take access over the land; we have certain rights of access in any event but this has been appreciated. The Council will also be requesting that they also take some action on their land to assist in the prevention of access and to this end the Council will keep you informed.”

    Source location

    2026-0084 - Response from Rossendale Borough Council
    Page 2 · response
    Published 13 February 2026

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent position was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Access to Sunnyside Works is suitable and safe for securing works, contrary to the owner's assertion that it is not.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “The Council has not accepted this position. The Council has been in communication with the owner of the Albert Mill site and they have confirmed that they are agreeable to ████████ taking access over their land to his property in order to carry out the securing of the building. This has been relayed to ████████ but he does not accept that access is suitable or safe. This is also not accepted by the Council.”

    Source location

    2026-0084 - Response from Rossendale Borough Council
    Page 1 · response
    Published 13 February 2026

    Open published response
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Information checked against published PFD reports and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026