A DECISION to prosecute the owner of a Cullompton building was ‘a last resort’ after they failed to comply with an untidy land notice, says Mid Devon District Council.

The owner of the Harlequin Valet site in High Street, Cullompton, was served with a section 215 notice in March – and the council says a ‘range of works required by the section 215 (untidy land) notice had not taken place’ before the August 1 deadline.

The Harlequin Valet launderette has been a derelict eyesore since a fire five years ago.

A council statement said this week: “In view of the fact that the range of works required by the section 215 (untidy land) notice have not taken place by August 1, Mid Devon District Council has commenced a prosecution against the owner of the building.

“The owner was served with the section 215 notice on March 20, 2014, and the council considers that the owner has had adequate time to comply with it.

“The council will only commence a prosecution as a last resort as most owners are willing to comply with an untidy land notice.”

Work began in April to clean up the property but council planners agreed to take enforcement action requiring the owner to carry out works, including demolishing it to ground level.

The council’s planning committee also stated that ‘other necessary improvements must be made in three months from the date the notice takes effect’.

The Market House Inn and Cullompton Baptist Church both say they have suffered water ingress as a result of the building not having a roof.

Church secretary Marilyn Bidmead said she was ‘angry’ it has taken the council so long so take action.

She said: “I’m glad they’re doing something but it’s taken too long.

“It was supposed to be done by the start of August but it hasn’t been.

“It’s been extremely frustrating – when it actually collapsed we had to use the back entrance to the church – and that was for a few weeks as well.

“I’m angry about it, because it’s affected us quite badly.”

When contacted by The Star, the building’s owner declined to comment.