THE owner of a dangerous building has been told he will have to foot the bill to have it demolished after failing to carry out vital repair work.

Blackburn Council made an order for contractors to demolish the former Ewood and Hollin Bank Conservative Club which fell into disrepair after a fire caused severe structural damage in 1994.

The building is owned by a Mr Malik from Queen's Park Road, Blackburn, but he has ignored efforts by ward councillors and building control officers to urge him to either renovate or demolish the building.

Now they have used the powers given to them under the 1984 Building Act to move on to the site and carry out the demolition and then charge the owner for the work.

The council made the decision to demolish the eyesore after Ewood ward councillors received complaints from local residents about its condition. Deputy Mayor and ward councillor Maureen Bateson has welcomed the demolition.

She said: "This particular building was in such a state of disrepair it was posing a danger to people nearby and had become an eyesore within the community.

"There are children living close by and there were obvious dangers to them."

The building is in an area set to be declared a Commercial Improvement Area in May.

Coun Bateson added: "People are going to have to realise they cannot just buy a building and leave it to fall down."

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