Now that the fate of the Red Lion pub (TF10 8DQ) has been decided the owner should not be allowed to let the pub fall into any further disrepair, the owner is the temporary custodian of our only community asset and they now need to start treating it as a pub in waiting and not a derelict.
There is documented substantial damage to one of the supporting walls, this is currently being propped up with a temporary solution of a few pieces of 2x4 wood and could potentially collapse any minute, this is not acceptable.
There is substantial damage also to the inside of the pub, which is unsecured and open to anyone to wander in. We have a huge concern that local children may be hurt or worse by playing in the unsafe and unsecure building and grounds and that the council should force the owner to make the building and grounds safe again.
We have a credible concern that this unsecure site will be a magnet for thieves and drug users, we don't want our only local community turning into the local drug den.
Under sections 77 and 78 of the Building Act 1984, Stafford BC can require the owner to make the property safe or enable the authority to take emergency action to make the building safe.
Under Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004, using the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System, Stafford BC Environmental Health Officers can evaluate the potential risks to health and safety arising from deficiencies within the Red Lion and the council can take appropriate enforcement action against the owner.
We believe that as a bare minimum the owner should be required to pay for a council instructed structural engineer to certify the building is structurally safe and the owner be required to rectify any defects found and that the owner should be required make the all the Red Lion's building secure and weatherproof to prevent further deterioration.