The owner of a controversial eyesore site in Spalding has been ordered to clean it up or face possible court action.
South Holland District Council has lost patience with Crispen Holdings over the state of the Bull and Monkie plot in Churchgate.
Planning officers last week served notice on the company ordering the site to be cleaned up.
The council says if it is not sorted out by the end of next month, further action will be taken. One route available is prosecution.
Coun Roger Gambba-Jones, portfolio holder for planning, said: “This is a very clear message to the owners that South Holland taxpayers have had enough of their shoddy and irresponsible management.
“We are determined to deal with this unacceptable blight on our town, our riverside and our parish church.”
The notice served requires the owners to:
- cut back all shrubs
- remove nettles, grasses and any other weeds, litter and all waste material resulting from the work
The notice will take effect on October 8 and runs for 21 days.
In April last year the council granted planning permission to Crispen Holdings to demolish the pub and use the site as a temporary car park. However, this was to be for a maximum of three years due to its location in a conservation area and next to listed buildings.
The council also wanted the car park to be gravelled and marked in bays.
Neither the demolition nor the car park preparation was carried out, but the site has been used casually as a free parking area.
Robert West, vice-chairman of Spalding and District Civic Society, welcomed the notice being served, saying: “It’s the one part of that particular area of the town which needs cleaning up.”
