A COUNCILLOR has called on the community to work together to ensure the fire that destroyed a former school does not escalate into a wider problem.

Councillor David Simmons, Adur district member for Hillside ward, has called for co-operation to ensure any issues arising from the blaze at the derelict Eastbrook Primary School in Southwick on Saturday night are resolved quickly.

The experienced councillor said it was important to wait until all the facts emerged about Saturday’s night’s dramatic blaze but he was keen for the public, police and councils to work closely in its aftermath.

He said: “At the moment we do not know whether it was kids mucking about, something that was more deliberate or someone who has been irresponsible.

“It does concern me if we have had young people involved in this and I would urge residents if they have seen someone hanging around there to contact police so we can get to the bottom of this.

“Whether or not it is young people who have not considered their own safety as well as putting nearby housing at risk if it had spread, it does require the community to play its part in ensuring this kind of thing is not repeated.

“I’m concerned if this is a sign of a wider problem in the area and we will have to be careful as we go forward. If the community has any concerns, then I would be very happy to hear from them, and we will support the police in any way we can to get to the bottom of this.”

The school closed in August 2013 after academy chain REAch2 Academy Trust took over the running of it and its sister site in Gardner Road, Fishersgate. It was expected the building would be demolished in any future plans for the site.

Cllr Simmons said he had contacted the council’s director for communities to ensure that everything possible is being done.

He added: “Normally speaking the building would be secured on the periphery and I have already made enquires as to whether that was the case.

“Sadly, an empty building like this will attract the wrong kind of attention.”