Scaffolding blocking the pavement in a Daventry street will finally be removed following repairs to a derelict building at risk of collapse.
Structural supports holding up the front of 7-13 Warwick Street currently block the pavement, forcing residents to walk in the road and raising safety concerns.
The building is also at one of the gateways into the town centre, and its derelict state reflects poorly on Daventry.
Yesterday (Wednesday) Daventry District Council contractors arrived on site to carry out works.
It comes after DDC took the owners to Northampton Magistrates’ Court in April.
Guiseppe Decaro, who lives in Grendon, Northants, and Andrew Demello, who lives in London, were ordered to carry out urgent repairs or to demolish the property after it was described as “dangerous” by court officials.
Now, following further inaction by the owners, the council has stepped in to make the building safe.
Simon Bowers, DDC business manager, said: “The council has stepped in to remedy the problems that have caused the property to deteriorate, using the powers available to it under the Building Act 1984.”
The council hopes to complete repairs by the middle of October, after which all existing barriers and wooden buttresses will be removed and the street returned to normal.
Mr Bowers added: “The costs of these works will be recovered from the owners or through a charge on the property.”
DDC regeneration portfolio holder, Cllr Chris Over,said: “I would like to see them put back to good use. They could provide people with flats or business units, instead of being allowed to moulder.”