Dover District Council tackles poorly maintained town centre properties

Dover District Council has served section 215 notices on The Castle Inn on Russell Street, and on two sites relating to land on the east side of King Street at the junction with Flying Horse Lane, and 8 King Street in Dover. The notices require improvements to the condition of the land and/or buildings with further action possible for non-compliance.

The section 215 notices have been issued under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended).  Notices can be served under section 215 of the Act where the condition of land or buildings is adversely affecting the amenity of the area.

Officers highlighted the poor condition of the grade II listed Castle Inn, including the need to repair rendering and flaking paintwork on walls and architectural features, removing redundant electrical cables, replacing a lantern hood, and removing an advert panel, scaffolding and building materials.

The owners of land on the east side of King Street at the junction with Flying Horse Lane have been required to remove all waste, rubbish and refuse from the land, to cut overgrown vegetation, and to repair and paint the fencing surrounding the site.

The owners of 8 King Street are being required to repair the render to external walls, and make good flaking paintwork on the roof railing, and remove overgrown vegetation from gutters and down pipes. 

Cllr Nicholas Kenton, Cabinet Member for Environment, Waste & Health, said: "We are taking a robust approach where property or land owners fail to take account of the effect that the condition of their property has on local people and the environment."