The plot thickens

So...the fire was arson. At least the police are looking for an arsonist. But it gets better. There was also a fire in Linthwaite, at another old mill site. If I'm correct, that would be the site being considered for a Tesco Express.

So the question is, who is setting these fires? The developers, who want to make it more likely to get approval, because there is nothing left to preserve, and no (longer) bats in the buildings?* The people opposed to the stores going in,** who think this will somehow hurt the developers (nope, makes their job easier)? Stupid kids setting fires? That's happened before, but not usually 2 major fires within twelve hours of each other.

So yes, long on theories and conspiracies, but short on actual evidence. I'll be honest and say that I hope it was the developers who put someone up to it, because then they'll a) go to jail, and b) will most likely have their application denied. Still, the developers seemed evil, but not stupid.

*Bats are a protected species in the UK, and if they are found living in a building, that building cannot be torn down/renovated unless permission is granted to have what is essentially a bat-removal specialist come in and relocate that bats. Yes, bats get a higher priority than people, which I think is awesome.

**As a sidenote, while I'm opposed to the Aldi in Slathwaite, but not to a Tesco Express in Linthwaite, because the only businesses in Linthwaite are takeaways, a Premier–basically a quikie-mart–and a Co-op, which is essentially a glorified quickie-mart. Slathwaite actually has real businesses: a butcher's, a pharmacy, an optitian, a mens' wear shop, a green grocer, a newsagent, a couple of shops that sell "stuff," a hairdresser, a bakery, an antique shop, an independently-owned quickie mart, and several cafés, all off the top of my head. We also have a Co-op, which is somewhat better than the one in Linthwaite, if not much.