COUNCIL bosses have been told to ‘immediately prosecute’ the owners of a former pub for failing to remove shutters on the front of the building.

Pendle councillors will discuss next week whether to take legal action against the owners of the Trafalgar Hotel, in Railway Street, Nelson.

The shutters were fitted three years ago without planning permission and have since been refused retrospective permission twice.

But the owners of the building told the council the shutters were required to reduce incidents of criminal damage.

In November 2010 an application to retain the shutters was rejected because of the impact they would have on the appearance of the building, and an application was also rejected in January 2011. Lee Greenwood, planning officer, said: “An enforce-ment notice was served requiring removal of the shutters, allowing 15 months for compliance, so that the owners had sufficient time to look in to alternative methods for site security.”

The pub closed in August 2009 when it was sold to developers.

Council officers have recommended that councillors grant permission to prosecute.