Legal Notice Served for White Lion Improvements

The owner of a former Cheriton pub has been ordered to make improvements to a building which has become a blight on the local area.

The condition of The White Lion – located at 70 Cheriton High Street and dating back to at least the 1850s – has deteriorated in recent times. It last closed in 2006.

Folkestone & Hythe District Council, under powers given by the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, has now demanded urgent action by serving a Section 215 notice on the site owners.

Kent County Homes Limited has until 13 November 2024 to compete a series of improvements. These include:

• Removing and replacing all perished, torn and damaged roof underlay and battens
• Retiling the roof with clay tiles of a similar colour to those removed
• Replacing missing brickwork, removed doors and rainwater goods (e.g. guttering)
• Removing all hoardings, graffiti and the build-up of waste in the rear garden

A local planning authority can serve a Section 215 notice when the condition of land or buildings adversely affects the amenity of an area, and normally requires the owners to take steps to improve the condition of the site.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the notice constitutes a criminal offence.

Lib Dem Cheriton Town Councillor Peter Gane who has long campaigned for the site to be brought back into use said:

"This is a positive step, but I hope we see improvements long before than the November 2024 deadline.

"Getting the building fixed up is a great start, but only that. Now it needs to be got back into use."