A TOWN councillor has joined the chorus of those calling for something to be done about an eyesore building blighting an important gateway into Northwich.

Riverside House, on Winnington Street, which is thought to have been empty for the last 30 years, has been left in an increasingly decaying state, despite being on the market for several years.

Cllr Lee Siddall, who represents the Winnington and Castle Ward on the town council, said he would like to see the owner and Cheshire West and Chester, who own land adjacent to it, come together to find a practical working solution.

He said: "Being pragmatic about the situation, I understand that it's not in the developer's interest to keep the building looking pretty as it costs money, and over the long term, it's going to be demolished anyway.

"However, I am disappointed that it has been allowed to get into this state.

"The look of the building is entirely the responsibility of the owner, who also helped to write the Northwich neighbourhood plan, with the aim of improving the look of our town, while letting one of his own buildings go to wreck and ruin."

The building is owned by a consortium that includes Osborne House Ltd, of which John Fifield is a director, while it is listed for sale as a development opportunity by his property consultant firm Fifield Glyn for £650,000.

Mr Fifield's son Charles, a Cheshire West and Chester councillor for Weaver and Cuddington, is also a director at the family-run Fifield Glyn, and also sits on the council's planning committee.

Riverside House is listed on Cllr Fifield's register of interests, which is something Cllr Siddall said should cause him to feel 'embarrassed' about.

Cllr Siddall added: "For me, a family-run local business that one of the directors who, as a CWAC councillor, sits on the planning committee, should be embarrassed to let this building get in this state, but John Fifield is confident and believes that this building is safe.

"I believe by keeping the building looking like an eyesore creates public pressure on CWAC to do something about it.

"What I would like to see is for all parties to come together to try and find a solution that works for everyone.

"My personal preference would be for the council to work with the developer and coming up with a formula that will determine what CWAC will be paid on completion of the project for the land they would hand over as part of their stake in the project."

Northwich Guardian: The MP has called on Cheshire West and Chester Council to take action

The building has been empty for 30 years and is now in a derelict state

Although Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury has called for CWAC to consider making a compulsory purchase order, Cllr Siddall doesn't consider that option to be the best way forward, but very much welcomed the involvement of the Shadow Housing Minister's on the issue.

He said: "I'm sure that Mike Ambsbury will continues to push for a resolution to this horrendous eyesore that visitors and residents pass regularly and encourage all local councillors to come together to find a reasonable outcome to this long-lasting blight on one of the main gateways into Northwich, to give people a good first impression to our wonderful town."

CWAC confirmed to the Guardian that a street elevation inspection of the building was carried out on July 12 which found nothing 'immediately dangerous' about it.

Cheshire West and Chester Council Chief Executive, Andrew Lewis, said: “This is an important gateway to the town centre, and we want to ensure its safety, and support its regeneration.

"The buildings are the responsibility of the owners and we encourage them to meet their responsibilities.

"Our Building Consultancy Manager visited the site on Monday, July 12 to assess the building from the street elevation, and saw nothing immediately dangerous about the properties.

"However, as these buildings are dilapidated we have written to the owners to inform them of our concerns, and advising them to appoint a structural engineer to assess their building, and to carry out any repairs that the engineer finds are necessary to ensure their structural safety.

"We also encourage the owners to engage with us constructively to secure a positive future for the site.”

Labour MP welcomed the news, saying: "I’m pleased that Cheshire West and Chester Council has intervened to look at the immediate safety concerns raised by myself and local councillors.

"Reaffirming something I have stated previously, the owners, together with CWAC and local stakeholders, need to once again get around the table and realise the potential of this gateway to Northwich."

Cllr Charles Fifield was approached for a comment on the issue, but stated: "This property is on my register of interests and I am a member of CWAC planning committee, as such I do not get involved with it and you are best contacting my father John Fifield for further comment."