Planners have decided to launch enforcement action against the developer of a landmark pub in Southend.

The move comes after demolition work has already started on the Blue Boar in Victoria Avenue, Southend.

The 111-year-old pub was bought last year by Sweeting Development after a long-running battle to find a buyer for the historic building.

Southend Council's development control sub-committee was told the developer had not met three different planning conditions. Details were supposed to be submitted to officers showing:

l Methods for surfacing the landscape around the site including information about protecting preserved trees

l Examples of building materials used before work started;

l Guarantees about demolition work connected with restoring the pub and constructing neighbouring flats.

A council spokesman said: "The developer was reminded of the requirement of conditions attached to the permission and consent and a further reminder was sent when the demolition commenced."

Councillors were told there was a breach of planning conditions and agreed to start enforcement action.

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