Cinema owner fined for not clearing junk
The owner of a cinema site that has been left derelict has been slapped with a hefty fine for failing to clear up junk left by fly-tippers.
David Webber was repeatedly told to shift old armchairs, pushchairs and discarded furniture that was dumped on the site of the old Carlton Cinema in Cosham.
Police said youngsters were climbing up the piles of rubbish to get into the empty cinema and firefighters raised concerns about arson attacks on the site.
But Webber, who owns the land, failed to clear the rubbish.
This week he was called before Portsmouth Magistrates' Court where he admitted having untidy land.
Stewart Lennard, senior enforcement officer at Portsmouth City Council, said: 'There were reports from residents, police and community wardens about land at the back of the old cinema site – there were mattresses and armchairs, the usual things you find fly-tipped.
'Also the fire service had concerns that the building had been broken into and had become an arson risk.
'Youngsters were using the old furniture piled up outside the back as a sort of scaffolding to climb up and get into the building.'
Mr Lennard said problems started after the Carlton Cinema, in Cosham High Street, was closed and left boarded-up in November 2007.
He said Webber kept the building secure and was initially quick to clear land of rubbish.
But more junk piled up and youngsters kept breaking in.
In October last year Webber, from property developers Sherewood Homes Ltd, Castle Street, Farnham, stopped responding to the council and was issued with an enforcement notice.
He failed to take action and was fined 500 and ordered to pay 1,368.54 in costs – including the cost of the city council's road contractors Colas clearing the site.
When contacted by The News Webber said: 'There has been fly-tipping on the land and we have arranged to have it removed.'
He would not comment further, or say what was planned for the future of the site.
Cllr Jason Fazackarley, in charge of environment and community safety at the council, said: 'We're grateful to the overwhelming majority of residents who respect other people and the city, and behave properly.
'Where people fail to do this, we won't hesitate to take action.'
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Friday 25 May 2012
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