Long-awaited plan for tackling South Holland's untidy sites

A long-awaited new blueprint for tackling untidy sites aims to help developers take them on - and sets out powers that can be used to punish owners who let them fall into ruin.

South Holland District Council’s ‘derelict and untidy sites policy’ is finally due for discussion at Tuesday’s policy development panel after being delayed by several months.

It aims to put in place a process for residents to report buildings of concern - and for officers to work with landowners and would-be developers on solutions.

It also spells out the enforcement powers the council has to be able to demand work - or to step in and make sites safe or free from vermin.

Current untidy sites include the Bull & Monkie in Spalding, the Bridge Hotel in Sutton Bridge and the John Neal Farm site in Long Sutton.

The council highlighted that the Red Cow in Donington and Chequers in Holbeach have now been renovated - with plans lodged for the former Spalding sorting office and Bell pub in Pinchbeck.

Coun Michael Booth, who worked on the draft policy, hopes the document attracts support so the work can begin.

He said forcing the sale of sites - via Compulsory Purchase Orders - remains a a last resort option, but stressed this is a long and expensive process - and the aim is to avoid using taxpayers money in this way. He added: “Going down that route - it’s a case of how many light years away are we from doing what we want.”

Coun Rodney Grocock, portfolio holder for assets and planning, said: “We have had untidy areas in South Holland for millennia - we have always wanted to find the best way to get rid of them. I do believe this will help a great deal - and hopefully in years to come our residents can say ‘that was a good thing, the council acted well on that and this untidy sites policy works’.”

What do you think? Will the plan help to rid our landscape of eyesores? Email jeremy.ransome@iliffepublishing.co.uk