Writing on the wall for Colne landowner (From Lancashire Telegraph)
When news happens, text LT and your photos and videos to 80360. Or contact us by email or phone.
Writing on the wall for Colne landowner
4:47pm Friday 18th January 2013 in News
By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter
Writing on the wall for Colne landowner
A LANDOWNER who left a sign warning residents to ‘keep out’ has been told to tidy the area up.
Residents near the patch of land between Hawley Street and Knotts Lane, Colne, were left confused last year when the owner erected a sign saying ‘Private Farm. Danger. Deep Water. Keep Out’.
The same message was also sprayed on a wall as well as on a container left on the land.
After a year-long battle the council has now served a Section 215 notice on the landowner, which requires him to tidy the area.
Coun Tommy Cooney, who lives off Knotts Drive, said: “I see this eyesore every day.
“This man is just flying in the face of local residents, and has no concern for them whatsoever.
“It seems this is his way of getting his own back for not getting planning permission, which is not only childish but also shows the complete disregard he really has for the area.
“Now that this notice has been served, we can take firm action. He has to complete the work or we as a council can go in, tidy it up and bill him.
“Either way, it’s time action was taken so that local residents don’t have to live with this mess.
“From a community point of view, tidy gardens and land mean an area looks well cared for, making people feel safe in that neighbourhood.”
Ward councillor and Colne Area Committee chairman Graham Waugh said: “We won’t be pushed over. He’ll either do the work, or pay for it being done. It’s as simple as that.”
In both planning applications for the erection of a house, the applicant was listed as a Padiham-based company called PLDS Company Ltd.
Comments(2)
tonygreaves
says...
5:50pm Sun 20 Jan 13
Cllr Waugh is chair of the Colne & District Committee but is not a ward Councillor - he's from Foulridge. Cllr Cooney is not a member of the Colne and District Committee because he is a Nelson Councillor.
The people pressing for action over the behaviour of the owner of this small piece of land (apart from neighbouring residents) are the ward Councillors in Waterside - Dorothy Lord, Graham Roach and me.
We have also been consistently pressing for action over the half-built housing across the road - though the Council has few powers to make the owners do anything other than tidy it up from time to time. We are now hopeful that the newest owners are serious about sorting it out. WAtch this space.
Tony Greaves
Colne lads back says...
5:09pm Fri 18 Jan 13
Just a thought if this chap applied to put a taxi office and kebab house on his land I'm sure you guys would give the big thumbs up, or offer a big bag of dosh and say barnfields are doing the job its worth a try.