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Press Release

8 March 2023

Council working to address ‘eyesore’

Fareham Borough Council continues to pursue a resolution to ensure the owner of the former Threshers store on Botley Road, Park Gate, brings their property and land up to a satisfactory standard. The property is currently described by locals as an ‘eyesore’.

The Council has been seeking to engage with the owner of the property for some time in light of its unacceptable appearance but has been unable to get any response. As a result, the Council served a formal Notice on the landowner, Mr Gill, in March 2022 which set out what works they need to do to improve the appearance of the site and the timetable for doing it.

The owner unsuccessfully tried to challenge the Council’s Notice through the Courts. The Court agreed the steps required by the council and the period for carrying out the works were reasonable. Compliance with the Notice was due by the end of last year with none of the required steps being completed by that time.

The failure to comply with the Notice was a matter which the Council then decided to prosecute through the Courts. The owner had been summoned to appear in Court on 28 February 2023. The landowner made a request to the Court to adjourn the hearing which the Court granted. The next court date has now been set for the end of May 2023.

Cllr Nick Walker, Chairman of the Planning Committee, said: "It is really disappointing that the landowner hasn’t responded to any overtures by the Council to discuss the issues at hand as the site is quite rightly described by local residents as an eyesore. The Council’s Officers have also invited the landowner to discuss any redevelopment proposals with them that he might have, but again no response has been forthcoming. It is particularly unhelpful that, at a time when many people are struggling to find somewhere to live, this building has been totally abandoned and left to rot."

Some works have been carried out by the Council, and paid for by the owner, to make the property safe.

ENDS