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£5,000 fine for owners of landmark Grimsby building

by Steve Beasant on 11 June, 2013

A damaged gutter on the building's north elevation

North East Lincolnshire Council has successfully prosecuted the owners of a Grimsby landmark building for allowing it to fall into disrepair.

CPG Investments Ltd, owners of Victoria Mills, were fined a total of £5,000, ordered to pay £380 costs and a £20 victim surcharge for five offences under Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Victoria Mills is a listed building and a separate part of it has been converted into apartments.

An extensive Section 215 notice was served on the company on 30 April 2013 containing 14 different sections including requirements to tidy up the building. The sections were grouped into five separate offences relating to vegetation/cleaning, roof works, loft, external stairs, windows, masonry and rainwater goods.

Following expiry of the notice, and no appeal having been submitted by the defendants, a further site visit had taken place and proceedings were issued.

The site inspection showed no works had been carried out and the council had to act to prevent matters worsening.

Jason Longhurst, the council’s head of development, added: “The majority of cases the enforcement team deals with can be solved through negotiation, but the owners of Victoria Mills failed to comply with our requests and we’ve had to take legal action to force them to recognise their wider public responsibilities. The council will continue to monitor the site and if necessary we can impose further penalties if nothing is done to put it right.

“North East Lincolnshire Council will continue to help and support the owners of listed buildings, providing expert advice and information, so as to ensure that repairs and maintenance are undertaken to the right standard. This will ensure that the character and appearance of buildings is retained for future generations to appreciate.”

The case was heard at Grimsby Magistrates’ Court. No-one from the defendant company attended and the prosecution were invited to prove in absence.

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