Dangerous Structures

Your local authority has the legislative power to deal with buildings and structures which are a danger to the public. These usually fall into two categories: those posing an immediate danger and those that are a potential danger.

Where structures suffer damage caused by vehicles, gales and fires and require immediate remedial work to make them safe every effort is made to contact the owner. Where this is not possible emergency work will be carried out by the local authority for the protection of the public and the costs will later be recovered from the owner.

Where there are potential dangerous structures the owner is contacted and given a reasonable period of time in which to remove the danger. Should the danger not be removed by negotiation a local authority can obtain a court order requiring the owner to remove the danger.

If the owner does not comply with the order the local authority can carry out the work and recover the costs from the owner.

Demolitions

Where the demolition of a building is intended, your local authority needs to be given notice in writing before the work starts. The local authority will serve a counter notice giving details of various precautions that must be taken for the protection of the public and adjacent buildings.

If the building to be demolished is a Listed Building or in a Conservation Area then it will also be necessary to obtain the requisite permission from your local authority to demolish the building.

Street Naming and Numbering

On any new development where new streets are being provided the developer puts forward suggested names. The local town or parish councils and the Post Office are consulted before adoption. The numbering of the streets is normally carried out at the same time as the streets are named on the development. Details of naming and numbering schemes are circulated to all the emergency services and service boards. The local authority are responsible to ensure that nameplates for all streets are provided and fixed in suitable prominent positions.