ACTION will soon to be taken on “Darwen’s number one grot spot”, owners promise.

The former Yates’ decorating centre on the corner of Duckworth Street and William Street was named as top of the ‘to do’ list by town council leader Steve Duncan, as he launched a campaign to improve the entrance to the town.

Owners Peacock Rentals, said they have spent thousands on plans to convert the building into apartments, which have been knocked back by “unco-operative” Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Now they hope to fully refurbish the shop, complete with a new frontage and brickwork, within six months.

At a town council meeting, Coun Duncan said: “Panels are falling off the top and bottom and it’s a health and safety problem.

“It’s Darwen’s number one grot spot. I don’t know of a better case for compulsory purchase.”

Sunnyhurst councillor Dave Smith agreed, although he warned of difficulties approaching the owners of buildings in poor repair.

He said: “It’s a complete eyesore. It’s the worst shop in the town centre and because it’s a double shop, it’s very prominent.

“It’s not fair on other shops in the area, because it doesn’t make them look good.

“Unfortunately a lot of properties like this are privately owned by people from out of the area who don’t really care.”

A spokesman for Manchester-based Peacock Rentals said: “We are aware of the state of the building, but there are no panels falling off it.

“It is probably the worst building on our books and the only one that hasn’t been rented out, and we are desperate to let it out.

“We’ve spent thousands on plans and architects trying to get permission to convert it into flats, but they’ve always been rejected by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

“The right hand of the council does not know what the left hand of the council is doing. They have been very unco-operative. Hitting landlords is easy, but they need to start working with us to improve the area.

“In the next six months we hope to fully refurbish the building and get it let out again.”

Other buildings that have come under criticism from town council members include a boarded up shop opposite Crown Paints entrance in Bolton Road and the former Co-op building in Hector Road.