http://archive.theboltonnews.co.uk/2004/7/1/481510.html
Blaze home repair order
From the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, first published Thursday 1st Jul 2004.
THE owner of one of Burnley's most important listed buildings which was ravaged by fire last year has been ordered to repair it.
The council has agreed to serve a legal notice on the owner of The Holme in Cliviger to make him carry out urgent and much-needed repairs on the Grade II* listed building, which is in danger of being lost forever.
The house, which is rated as a building of exceptional value whose preservation is in the national interest, was badly damaged in a suspected arson attack in April last year still being investigated by police.
Since the blaze the condition of the building has gone downhill and it has been targeted by thieves who have stolen stone and other architectural features.
Burnley council's executive agreed this week to serve the owner, who has not been named, with the repairs notice and to look at proposals for a compulsory purchase order on the building, which is among the top four per cent of the most important listed buildings in the country.
Coun Frank Cant, the executive member for planning, environment and transport, said: "We have been trying and trying to persuade the owner to do something to save this historic building. We have been pressing him to secure the site and make the necessary repairs to the house to bring it back to its former glory.
"We have reached the point where we have to step in. If we don't do something soon The Holme will be reduced to a pile of stones and the borough will have lost one of its most important buildings forever."
David Brown, the council's director of environment, said: "Issuing a repairs notice is a precursor to allowing the council to compulsorily purchase the building if the owner doesn't carry out the necessary repairs.
"We have not reached that point yet though, but we hope that the repairs notice forces movement, either to sell or to do the work that's required."
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