Last updated 12:21, Friday, 14 November 2008

The owner of a dilapidated building in Silloth has been fined after failing to demolish or clean up the “eyesore”.

The eyesore building

Allerdale council prosecuted William George Tinnion, of Greenrow, Silloth, after a long battle over the disused shop and house on Bank View, Golf Villas.

Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard that the run-down building was “seriously detrimental to the amenities of the neighbourhood” at the hearing on November 3.

The house had stood empty for about 20 years and the shop for five years.

The prosecution came after Tinnion was given 180 days to carry out required works following a notice served in 2003. But an inspection in January 2004 found a majority of the renovation had not been done, nor had it been demolished.

In April 2004, the council wrote to Tinnion informing him it would carry out the renovation or demolition.

He subsequently submitted a planning application to redevelop the property which was approved in October 2004.

But by March 2005, nothing had been done.

Further negotiations took place during 2006, 2007 and early 2008 with little progress.

A list of the works still to be completed was sent to Tinnion on May 21 this year, together with notification the council was considering legal action.

District Judge Gerald Chalk found Tinnion guilty of failing to comply with the notice under Section 79 of the Building Act 1984.

He was found guilty of failing to provide information as to the owner of the property after claiming it was jointly-owned, despite the Land Registry confirming it was in sole ownership.

Tinnion was fined £100 for the first offence and ordered to pay court costs of £300.

This was his second prosecution. He was found guilty in April, 2007, where he was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £250.