THE owners of a dilapidated cinema in Evesham could be ordered to tidy up the site - if it can be established who they are.

The Regal Cinema in Port Street has been empty for three years and has been dubbed an eyesore by residents and traders.

Planning permission has been granted to turn it into an 'entertainment zone' - including bars, a bingo hall and luxury apartments - but there has been no effort to start the work since the scheme was given the green light last August.

Now Wychavon District Council is proposing to serve the owners with a Section 215 notice under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

The local authority said it is unsure who is responsible for the cinema, though it is in touch with agents for the site.

If the confusion over ownership can be cleared up the order would in effect provide the council with the powers to order precise work to be carried out on the building.

It wants the owners to:

l Prepare and redecorate the four entrance doors and timber surrounds, including painting the protective boarding over the glazed panels.

l Redecorate the three timber shop fronts as well as the pair of exit doors.

l Replace timber fascia board over shop fronts

l Redecorate all windows on the first, second and third floors, including replacing broken glass.

l Remove all unnecessary surface wiring and redundant fixtures.

Wychavon's heritage manager Jim Burgin said: "The condition and appearance of the cinema as viewed from the street is poor, and conveys a negative impression of the area's amenity and its vitality as a place to live, work and shop in.

"The ongoing deterioration of the Regal undermines the improvements being undertaken elsewhere in the area and jeopardises the viability of the street in economic terms."

A spokesman for the council said: "We are in touch with the owner's agents, but at the moment it is still unclear who the owners are."

Wychavon's development control committee has been urged to give the go-ahead for a Section 215 notice during its meeting tomorrow. If the notice is served, work would have to be completed within three months.