A MAN been given seven days to move a vehicle which blocks access to a Conservative club - or appear in court to defend his actions.

A "removal and disposal order" was served on Peter Dowton, of St Ives Road, Intack, on behalf of Blackburn with Darwen Council under the Highways Act.

The move came after complaints from Conservative club bosses and customers and residents who said access to the back of their houses had also been blocked.

He now has seven days to move a car which has been parked on the access road to the club's car park or a second notice will be served and an application made to Blackburn magistrates for the car to be removed and destroyed.

Maureen Moorcroft, treasurer at the Intack and Knuzden club, said the situation was costing them business and money.

Police confirmed they had been called on a number of occasions as a result of the dispute, prompted by Mr Dowton's claim he owns part of the unadopted land, which is not under council control.

Blackburn with Darwen Council said waste removal trucks had been unable to clear residents' rubbish.

Mrs Moorcroft said: "There has been a club running on this site since 1890 and we have never had a problem until February when Mr Dowton moved in.

"He says that he owns the land and will fine anyone he finds parking there without his permission.

"Because the alley is blocked deliveries cannot get to the club, we cannot get rid of our rubbish because the van cannot get to us and if there was an emergency at the back of the club then no vehicle could get down there.

"We are losing customers because there is nowhere for them to park and we are having to pay £150 extra for special deliveries as the drivers now have to roll the beer barrels down the road. He has put up a sign saying that entrance to the car park is £170 but both the council and the police have said that this is unenforceable."

Coun Andy Kay, council executive member for regeneration, said: "The council believes access to the alley is important for refuse collections and emergency vehicles.

"The problem has arisen because the stretch of land is unadopted and we are currently investigating claims made by Mr Dowton that he had part of the land signed over to him.

"We have asked him to refrain from obstructing an unadopted highway and a notice to remove the vehicle was served yesterday."

PC Sonia Martin from Blackburn police added: "We have been called to St Ives Road a number of times after Mr Dowton did a few things that we weren't happy about.

"He did put posters up saying that he was blocking access with the police's and the council's approval and co-operation and that is simply not the case and we asked him to remove them immediately.

"This is a civil dispute and the council has now taken action to resolve it."

It is understood the vehicle has been causing problems for several months, although is not parked permanently on the site.