Rishton: Owner of property empty since 1997 is prosecuted

The owner of 5 Haworth Street in Rishton, which has been empty since 1997, has been prosecuted regarding the state of the property. 

On the 19th November 2015 Graham Flegg of 33 Orchard St Gt Harwood pleaded guilty before Hyndburn Magistrates to his having failed to comply with a notice served on him pursuant to S79 Building Act 1984 contrary to S99 of that Act.

He was fined £175 + £20 victim surcharge and ordered to pay £505 costs ( £125 legal £380 investigation) and a court charge of £150.

Cllr Ken Moss said, "The Rishton Councillors are delighted about this one. It is a long-term empty property and we have been trying to get it sorted for years. The house has been put up for sale and all costs have been recovered by the Council."

Cllr Clare Cleary said, "It has been a longstanding problem in Rishton and we are committed to clamping down on people who simply allow their properties to become blighted sites."