Collapsed Courthouse owner given repairs deadline

The Old Courthouse collapsed into the River Cocker last October

The owner of a listed building which collapsed into a river has been given one week to begin repairs.

The Old Courthouse in Cockermouth, Cumbria, partially collapsed into the River Cocker on 8 October last year.

It led to the nearby Cocker Bridge being closed to traffic until mid-December, with traffic lights and a scaffold screen still in place.

Cumberland Council has given the owner until 24 January to begin repairs otherwise, it warned, it will carry out the work itself.

It has issued a Section 54 Notice which gives it the power to carry out work on listed buildings.

The notice was issued on 17 January and lists the minimum works needed to be carried out on the building.

A council spokesperson said: "If no steps are taken, the council has the authority to carry out the works."

That work has been endorsed by Historic England and includes stabilising the first and second floor, as well as demolishing sections in the rear wing of the building.

Weatherproofing must then be carried out on the remaining masonry walls.