Spoiler alert – Coronation Street back in Saddleworth for new shoot

A hush-hush return to the site of a brutal soap land murder in Saddleworth is currently taking place.

The former Robert Fletcher & Sons Paper Mill in Greenfield is in lock down while cast and crew from Coronation Street shoot scenes for future episodes.

Access to the private mill road that leads to a number of houses as well as onto the derelict site, is restricted at both ends by security staff.

A number of public footpaths have been closed under permission from Oldham Council.

Five speed bumps on the mill road have temporarily been removed and potholes filled in.

However, motorists and walkers can still use Bank Lane and gain normal access to Dovestone Reservoir.

Curious onlookers plus a single paparazzi photographer, could see numerous personnel milling around close to the entrance to Fletchers.

Filming started on Monday, August 20 and is scheduled to finish at 7.30pm on Wednesday, August 22.

The ‘Corrie’ press office is closely guarding plot lines but said the Saddleworth scenes are likely to be shown in October.

If they prove half as explosive as the last time Fletchers was used as the backdrop for filming, they will be worth watching.

Millions of viewers saw Pat Phelan – played magnificently menacingly by Connor McIntyre, shoot mechanic Luke Britton (Dean Fagan) after a spectacular car chase along the mill road and then burn him alive.

Other scenes involving murderous Phelan were filmed at the Royal George pub on Manchester Road in Greenfield.

A letter sent by ITV to a number of residents stated: “The filming is set to take place on the road that leads to the mill, outside the mill entrance and it involves scenes with car driving, stationery cars and stunts.

“When filming these kinds of scenes there is a lot of action, crew and activity in the area and these need to be carried out safely and in a controlled area.

“This means we would like to control the flow of traffic on the road that leads past the mill and perhaps on occasion it may be necessary to block the road from the footbridge to just past the mill entrance.”

Oldham Council confirmed: “The film company paid the closure fee (for the public footpaths) of £815.

“This is the standard cost and pays for legal fees, officer time and processing.”