Man given six months to improve building off Wakefield Road

Anthony MacKinnon, who owns Asco Works, was issued with an enforcement notice by Kirklees Council in September.

It called on him to make improvements to the site in Spring Gardens, off Wakefield Road, Earlsheaton, or knock the building down.

Mr MacKinnon lodged an appeal against the notice, but withdrew it during a hearing at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court this morning.

He signed an agreement with the council which gives him six months to either knock the building down or make the necessary improvements.

Prosecutor Christopher Moran, for Kirklees, said any planning application submitted by Mr MacKinnon would be dealt with quickly, to help him meet his deadline.

The council has also been pushing the owner of 60/62 Wakefield Road to make improvements to their property.

An appeal had been lodged against a council enforcement notice, but this was withdrawn last week.

A council spokeswoman said: “The works involve the boarding and/or re-boarding of the window openings within the property, painting all said boarding black, removing debris and some fencing at the front of the site and carrying out some minor rendering works.

“The owner has six weeks in which to comply with the notice.”