Council bosses are taking legal action against the owners of a historic Leicester building which was destroyed following a spate of arson attacks.
Leicester City Council is seeking to prosecute the owners of All Saints Brewery for the alleged breach of Conservation Area rules.
The authority is accusing Ingleby Ltd and its director, Roy Coley, of failing to secure the frontage of the brewery in Highcross Street – something that was required under the Conservation Area consent secured by Ingleby when it applied for permission to do some work on the site.
The brewery building had to be demolished last year following repeated arson attacks over the previous six years. Most of the All Saints site has been demolished for safety reasons, with the shell of the 19th century master brewer's house the only thing that remains.
City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "The deterioration of the All Saints Brewery over a number of years has resulted in the loss of a significant, locally important historic complex of buildings, and irreversible harm to the All Saints Conservation Area.
"I am determined no more historic buildings will be lost in this way and would like to send a clear message to the owners of such buildings that we will take action against them if they allow this to happen."
Sir Peter drew up a conservation strategy to save the city's crumbling industrial heritage after a visit to the brewery site in Highcross Street. He said the council would use its enforcement powers and any legal action required to protect the city's historic buildings.
Mr Coley, director of Ingleby Ltd, said the company would fight the action.
He told the Mercury: "We refute the charge. I cannot comment further as the matter is in the hands of my legal people."
Ingleby Ltd wanted permission to clear the final building, but that was rejected by the city council in August following a campaign by Leicester Civic Society, the Victorian Society and Leicestershire Industrial History Society.
Stuart Bailey, chairman of Leicester Civic Society, said: "There are number of important buildings there and we need to ensure they are being looked after."
Jon Goodall, chairman of the Leicestershire branch of the Victorian Society, said he was pleased with Sir Peter's "strong statement of intent".
The case will come before Leicester magistrates in June.
