Owners of a derelict pub have been fined almost £16,000 after leaving the local landmark to rot.
The Old Roan pub, based at the junction of Ormskirk Road and Copy Lane in Aintree, closed in August 2013 and has remained empty ever since.
Its closure divided opinions, with some living close relieved to see it shut down while its regulars were disappointed by the sudden news.
And when Sefton Council officers visited the site in August 2019, the building and adjacent land was found to be "of poor appearance, in unacceptable condition", therefore having an "adverse and detrimental impact on the residential community".
The roof was in bad condition with many missing tiles, weeds had overgrown, filling gutters, sprawling up the building and reaching the pavement, and windows were damaged.
Midlands-based letting agency Commercial Realty Ltd, which owns the site, was sent a Community Protection Notice (CPN) on September 3 2019, advising them to carry out remedial works within five weeks.
But when environmental officers revisited on January 8 of this year, no cleaning or refurbishing works had been performed.
A second CPN was issued on January 10, but on February 14, the pub and surrounding areas were still in an "unsightly" condition.
Commercial Realty was due to appear at South Sefton Magsitrates Court yesterday (Tuesday), but owners Navneet Kumar Aggarwal and Vivake Kumar Mehra failed to turn up.
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The hearing was held in the company's absence, and due to failure to comply with the CPNs issued, they were found guilty of offences under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act.
Commercial Realty Ltd was fined £15,942.41 by magistrates.
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