The owners of a derelict building in Weston-super-Mare’s conservation area have been ordered to restore it by North Somerset Council.

The former Lynton House Hotel in Madeira Road has been empty for several years and has fallen into a state of disrepair.

Nearby residents have complained of anti-social behaviour at the property, including trespassers starting fires.

As a result, the council has stepped in and served an enforcement notice on the owners of the property – London-based BZH Properties.

The notice gives the owners six months to carry out a substantial amount of work on the dilapidated building. The required work includes:

• cleaning, repairing and repainting all external timbers, replacing any rotten or perished timbers
• cleaning and repainting all exterior metalwork
• repairing damaged stone work and walls
• replacing any lost or broken windows
• repairing or replacing all external doors
• cleaning all the guttering and downpipes, replacing and repairing any broken ones
• repairing and replacing any missing roof timbers and roof tiles
• removing all rubbish from the property and its surrounds and restoring all paths
• removing all weeds and overgrowth from the site.

All replacement items and materials used need to be ‘like for like’ to match the existing ones.

In addition, the council is in discussions with the owners about putting up hoardings around the site to make it more secure. The metal fencing previously put up has failed to stop trespassers getting on to the site.

Local ward member Cllr John Crockford-Hawley is the council’s heritage and regeneration champion. He said: “This dilapidated former hotel has suffered vandalism and other forms of challenging behaviour for too long. I am pleased enforcement action is now being taken to encourage a more positive appreciation of the hillside’s Victorian character.”

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