At Redhill Magistrates Court on Monday 13th May, the owner of the former Rose & Young site in Croydon Road, Caterham - Caterham Properties Ltd - was found guilty, in its absence, of failure to comply with a planning enforcement notice. The Court imposed the maximum fine of £1000, awarded the Council costs of £796 and £15 to the victim support fund.

The Planning Committee has agreed to prosecute the owner again if the requirements of the notice are not carried out within six weeks of this conviction. A second conviction has a maximum fine of £100 for every day the notice is not complied with, following the first conviction.

In September 2012, following a decision by the Council's Planning Committee, a legal notice was served on the owners of the former Rose and Young site in Croydon Road, Caterham, requiring significant improvements to the appearance of the building, or for the building to be demolished. The period for compliance with the notice passed and in March the Council's Planning Committee decided to pursue prosecution of the owners for failure to comply with the requirements of the notice.

The Council does have powers to carry out the required works itself, but has decided, before spending significant public money on a matter that is the responsibility of the land owner, to bring a series of prosecutions. Council officers continue to press the owner to take action to resolve the appearance of the building and to bring forward plans for redevelopment of the site.

Gill Black, Chairman of the Planning Committee, said: "This successful prosecution, in the absence of the owner, shows the Council will not tolerate land owners who let their properties become dilapidated by neglect. Unsightly properties have a detrimental impact on the appearance of an area. In this case the Council remains intent on pressing the land owner to take responsibility for the building."

The privately owned site has been unoccupied for many years and the Council, residents and businesses are unhappy with the run down appearance of the land and building. The Council has previously issued a policy statement about the potential for pursuing compulsory purchase. Redevelopment of the site remains one of the Council's key objectives.

Following the court hearing, Caterham resident John Harvey said: "This is a welcome move towards the day when direct action will have to be taken either by the owners of the site or by Tandridge District Council."