Council gets tough on run-down buildings

Rochdale Borough Council has this week begun knocking down a dangerous and dilapidated building on Milnrow Road, Rochdale.

It follows the owner's failure to repair or restore the building, which is close to the junction with Oldham Road. The council subsequently sought a court order for permission to demolish the building. Demolition of the former chip shop, damaged by a fire in 2005, is expected to take a couple of weeks.

The work is part of a wider project to identify and take action against empty and run-down buildings across the borough.

Councillor Wera Hobhouse, cabinet member for environment and sustainability, said "We have looked in detail at the complex issue of empty and dilapidated buildings in the borough and we are putting together a new strategy to address the issues.

"We want to get the message to building owners that we are committed to the regeneration of the borough and we won't allow unsightly and dangerous buildings to blight the area."

Councillor Hobhouse added: "In cases where the owners of buildings will not take responsibility, we can step in and then recover the cost from them through legal proceedings. Our staff are working hard to target these types of building and we will start to see the benefit as we conclude our work - either with or without owners' co-operation."