Firm fined £1k for not demolishing eyesore
THE owners of a derelict hotel in Harlech have been fined for failing to demolish the eyesore building.
In December 2015 the Snowdonia National Park Authority (SNPA) filed a notice requiring owners Aitchinson Associates Limited to tear down St David’s Hotel, which has been closed since 2008 and subsequently fallen into a significant state of disrepair.
Aitchinson Associates Limited (AAL) had until April 28, 2017, for the site to be cleared completely.
However, demolition work is yet to begin and AAL were taken to court by SNPA.
AAL, who are based in Gibraltar, failed to appear at the hearing on Wednesday and magistrates at Caernarfon fined them the maximum of £1,000, a victim surcharge of £100 and costs to the Authority of £552.20.
Further court proceedings could see AAL fined £100 a day the demolition notice is not complied with.
Jonathan Cawley, the authority’s Director of Planning and Land Management, said: “This matter continues to be frustrating to both the National Park Authority and, in particular, to the local residents of Harlech.
“Due to its complicated nature, we believe the owners were given ample time to demolish this eyesore of a building and clear the site.
“It is, therefore, very disappointing that the company ignored the notice served on them.
“We are however heartened that the court agreed to proceed with dealing with the matter in the absence of the company and that the maximum fine for failure to comply with a Section 215 Notice was given.
“If the owners continue to ignore the requirements of the notice, the authority will consider further options available, which include issuing further court proceedings which could see the company, from today, fined £100 for every day that the notice is not complied with.”
The seafront hotel was originally built in 1910, but then rebuilt in 1922 following a large fire.
In 2009, the SNPA granted conditional planning permission for it to be torn down and replaced with a 130-bedroom hotel with 76 holiday apartments.
However, the developer did not proceed with the project.
The hotel is in a prominent position within Harlech and is situated next to the Harlech Conservation Area and close to Harlech Castle and a designated World Heritage Site.