Wyre Council gives owners of old M&S in Fleetwood's Lord Street 14 days to make building safe after fire

The new owners of the fire-damaged former ex-catalogue shop on Lord Street, Fleetwood, have been given 14 days to carry out essential safety works after Wyre Council served formal notice on the building.

Following the recent change of ownership, the council has written to the new owners requiring them to remove the danger posed by the building. The works will include the installation of structural scaffolding to stabilise the property and allow safe repair work to take place.

Wyre Council said completing the work should allow the road to fully reopen and restore normal access to neighbouring businesses.

If the required works are not completed within 14 days, the council will apply to the Magistrates' Court for an order under Section 77 of the Buildings Act 1984. If granted, the order would give the owners a specified period to remove the danger. Should they fail to comply, the council would be able to carry out the work itself and recover the reasonable costs incurred.

The update follows a major fire which destroyed the former ex-catalogue outlet on 3 June. The building, which previously housed Marks & Spencer and Hitchens department store, was engulfed in flames after Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service was called shortly after 5pm. Around 20 firefighters from Fleetwood, Blackpool, Lytham and St Annes attended the incident, with eight fire engines at the height of the blaze as crews battled the fire for several hours.

Two teenage boys were arrested on suspicion of arson following the incident and have been bailed pending further enquiries.