25 March 2026

At long last, the Council gets really heavy with the miscreant owner!

Question from RVR Planning Officer:

The Chalet, Kirkstone Way BR1, which has been an untidy site for more than a decade. Would the Council now take direct action to tidy it, as two enforcement notices and the threat of prosecution have totally failed to tidy the site.

Council’s Reply:

I can confirm that the Council’s Legal Team has applied to the Magistrates’ Court for a summons. The first hearing is scheduled for 21 April 2026 at 2pm. We will await the outcome from the prosecution team before considering taking Direct Action.

Direct Action, if required, will need to follow procurement rules and three quotes will be needed before a contractor can be selected - there is currently no budgetary provision for these types of enforcement action. In the event that Direct Action is taken the Council will ask that a charge be placed on the land to recover the cost from the owners.

28 September 2024

Following the owner's failure to comply with an Enforcement Order, which is a criminal offence, we await tougher action from the Council.  This could include criminal prosecution and/or sending the Council's own contractors to tidy the site, at the owner's expense.  We await developments with interest.