Castleton councillors ask council to use enforcement action against owners of abandoned properties

Councillor Aasim Rashid and Councillor Billy Sheerin
outside the 'abandoned' Junction pub which has been empty for over two years

Councillor Aasim Rashid and Councillor Billy Sheerin have asked council officers to use enforcement action against the owners of abandoned properties to bring them back into use.

Local residents have raised their concerns with the Castleton councillors about the number of properties in the village that are just being left to rot, properties such as the former Junction pub, the former George and Dragon pub, the Carnegie building and other buildings which have been left unused by their owners, in some cases for very many years.

The negative impact on the community, such as health and safety issues and the visual effect on surrounding properties, is an increasing concern as is the anti-social behaviour that comes from gangs using the 'abandoned' buildings as smoking and drinking dens.

Councillor Rashid said: "We have asked the council property management office to use enforcement against owners who are not taking proper care of their properties. We have emphasised that the council's discretionary powers need to be used to take over these properties if necessary and bring them back to a usable condition. Any costs incurred should be payable by the owners or the properties sold at auction to cover the council's costs."

If the council carries out works in default then the costs can be recovered through processes of formal debt recovery, which can include securing a charge against the property. Under Section 103 of the Law of Property Act 1925, the Council has the power to sell properties in order to recover debt held on them as a land charge.