Lancaster City Council has instructed the owners of the former Trinity Methodist Church to clean up the building and surrounding land.

Areas close to the church, such as the West End Gardens and Yorkshire Street, have seen major improvements recently, but they are overshadowed by the dilapidated state of the building.

The council has told the developers who now own the building that it needs to be made safe and the windows need to be properly secured.

A notice has been served under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, section 215 (also known as an untidy land notice), with a deadline of three months to carry out the necessary repairs.

The notice was not appealed by the owners and came into effect in October.

It sets out a schedule of works required to the roof and drainage, windows, external paved area within the curtilage and the hoardings.
All the works must be completed by January 24, 2009.

The council has urged the owners to discuss possible alternative uses for the site.