OWNERS of unfinished and untidy developments in the Ribble Valley face being prosecuted if they do not fall in line with a crackdown launched by the borough council.

Ribble Valley Council's planning department wrote to parish councils for details of all 'unfinished developments' in the area -- projects or buildings not completed in accordance with the planning permission granted.

The move follows complaints from residents the unfinished, empty and grotty properties are lowering the tone of rural villages and towns -- with claims that Ribchester lost out on last year's Best Kept Village Competition because of one.

More than a dozen sites have been located, including premises in Sabden, Whalley, Ribchester, Ramsgreave, Read, Newton-in-Bowland and Longridge.

Another 10 have been highlighted in Clitheroe alone.

Paul Timson, director of legal services at the council, said: "It is clear from the responses that there are a number of sites within the Ribble Valley which give rise to complaints either because the development of the site is proceeding very slowly to has stopped, or because the site is unoccupied.

"Under section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, we have the general power to take action against untidy sites where these adversely affect the amenity of the area.

"The authority can serve notice on the owner or occupier of the land requiring steps to be taken for tidying up the land.

"In the first instance, we will be identifying the owners and writing to them asking them to detail their intentions for the site and the timescale within which they expect to act.

"If no satisfactory response is received, we will serve notice under the Act."

A spokesman for Ribchester Parish Council said: "We have a redevelopment within the village of a derelict garage in Lower Boyces Farm on Blackburn Road.I t is an eyesore from several angles. It was commented on unfavourably during the judging of last year's best kept village competition."