MAGISTRATES have given the owner of a dilapidated landmark building in Malmesbury 28 days to stop it posing a danger to the public or face criminal proceedings.

Frank Faryab, 64, was not in court on Tuesday to hear the Chippenham bench agree to Wiltshire Council’s request for an order demanding that he carry out emergency repairs to 6 Oxford Street.

The authority put up scaffolding on the listed building and called in the fire brigade for help earlier this year after it was approached by worried councillors who feared passers by could be injured or even killed by falling masonry or roof tiles.

Building control surveyor John Hughes detailed the poor state of the roof on the front of the property, loose bricks on a chimney stack and a “massive crack” in a side wall.

Drawing attention to the bistro next door, he said: “What I am concerned about is that this wall may fall out.”

He said he had written to owner Frank Faryab in July. They had agreed to meet on July 16 and Mr Faryab, had taken Mr Hughes had been taken round the outside of the building.

“He agreed it was dangerous and he would instruct a builder straightaway. But, said Mr Hughes, the builder later contacted him to tell him work had not started because “there was no cashflow from Mr Faryab.”

“This is the last resort and we have had to come to court,” said Mr Hughes.

The magistrates imposed an order under section 77 of the Building Act requiring Mr Faryab, who owns two other buildings in the same street, to do the work within 28 days or the council has the power to move in, complete the repairs itself and recover the cost from him.

Wiltshire Councillor for Malmesbury, Simon Killane described the order as the start of the process.

“I think it’s great news and it’s well overdue. It is about time the council took its responsibilities seriously and went out and used its statutory powers.”

“We need to get these buildings back into use,” he added.