ACTION is being taken to secure a ‘dangerous’ former hotel in Newquay after squatters started living in the building.

Cornwall Council will be boarding up the derelict four-storey Sutherland Hotel on Mount Wise after residents made a number of complaints.

The unitary authority’s fly-tipping team has been asked to clear the rubbish that people have started to dump within its grounds.

The action follows Newquay Town Council’s derelict building working party, which was established to ensure dilapidated buildings do not become too much of an eyesore, calling for the unsightly premises to be improved.

Newquay central Cornwall councillor Joanna Kenny said: “We have had a lot of commentary about the former Sutherland Hotel.

“Cornwall Council is progressing that. They will be taking action because the owner is not securing the building.

“It is going to cost Cornwall Council money to board up. The council could put in a claim as a creditor if the owner sells the site but the chance of them getting any money back is not good.

“It is no secret there are people living in there and it is no secret the electricity is still on.

“Technically Cornwall Council has no rights or responsibilities for the building, but it is becoming such a problem. It is dangerous so the council is going to take action.

“One council team will board up the building, and it has another team that deals with fly-tipping.

“The problem is the building sits like a ruin, which attracts fly-tipping. The best thing we can do is get the fly-tipped rubbish taken away.

“The problem is the more fly-tipped rubbish is left there the more people are going to dump things there.”

Developer Blakesley Estates Ltd has received planning permission to knockdown the Sutherland Hotel and construct an aparthotel, which will consist of 32 holiday apartments.