A FORMER pub which has become a town centre eyesore is set to be demolished.

Durham County Council has started knocking down the Drive 2 Data building in North Railway Terrace, in Seaham.

Formerly the Noah's Ark public house, the building has fallen into disrepair, sparking concerns about its condition and its position in the town.

Stuart Timmiss, the council's head of planning and housing, said he hoped the demolition would mark a "new chapter" for the area.

The authority had issued the owners of the building with a notice requiring them to demolish it last August.

When the owners failed to comply with the notice, the council took legal action.

The owners pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the requirements of a Section 215 notice when they appeared at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court in July, when they were given conditional discharges and told to pay costs of £170.

They had until the end of September to demolish the building but have still not complied with the notice.

The Northern Echo:

Vehicles parked at the rear of the Drive 2 Data building in Seaham

The council has decided to carry out the demolition itself and will bill the owners to cover the cost of the work.

Stuart Timmiss, the council's head of development and housing, said: “The condition and appearance of the Drive 2 Data building has had a detrimental impact on the character of the area.

“The owners had numerous opportunities to carry out the demolition work themselves but didn’t do it and even admitted in court their failure to comply with the legal notice.

"Legal notices to demolish a property are only ever issued when the condition of the building means there is no viable option for its future and is it having a particularly adverse on the local area. It is, therefore, important that they are enforced, whether this is by the owners complying or the council carrying out the work itself.

“We have tried to work with the owners previously and that offer will remain open if they approach us with a viable option for the future of the site. We hope this can mark the start of a new chapter for this area.”