COUNCIL chiefs agreed a compromise with Ely businessman John Borland on Tuesday six months after ordering him to smarten up his Market Street shop. They agreed to extend an enforcement notice until November 30 to allow Mr Borland to demolish the former fr

COUNCIL chiefs agreed a compromise with Ely businessman John Borland on Tuesday six months after ordering him to smarten up his Market Street shop.

They agreed to extend an enforcement notice until November 30 to allow Mr Borland to demolish the former fruit and vegetable shop ready for rebuilding.

The move came after Mr Borland was granted planning permission earlier this year on condition that a rebuilding contract was put in place and a time-table of work was agreed with the council.

Under the original enforcement notice issued by East Cambridgeshire District Council he had been given just 60 days to repair and redecorate the shop or face court action following complaints that the disused building had become an eyesore in the city's conservation area.

But Mr Borland launched an appeal against the order claiming he had not been given enough time to carry out the work.

On Tuesday, John Aspinall, representing Mr Borland, told Ely Magistrates: "He has obtained planning permission to demolish and rebuild the shop. Once this work has been done the concerns of the council will have been resolved."

East Cambridgeshire District Council chief executive, John Hill, said: "The aim of our enforcement action has been to get the property back into an acceptable state and we are encouraged by the proposals the owner has now put forward for its redevelopment. By allowing him the extra time under the original notice we hope he will now take the opportunity to begin work on the building. In the meantime we will continue to monitor the situation.