A WHITEHAVEN harbour “eyesore” looks set to be finally demolished.

Mark House, which has run into disrepair after standing empty since 2004, has been targeted in Copeland Council’s dilapidated buildings crackdown.

Its owner – the board of trustees of The Albion Ltd Pension Scheme – has now agreed to enter discussions with the council which, mayor Mike Starkie says, will lead to the building “being demolished as soon as possible.”

Mr Starkie added: “Our harbour is the centrepiece of Whitehaven and this building has been an eyesore in that location for too long.

“We have had positive negotiations with the owners and we are working with them to speed up the process.”

The site – and The Park nightclub next door – was awarded planning permission for a £10million apartment, office and retail complex in 2010 but the work was never carried out.

Mr Starkie added that the council is “making good progress” in negotiations with the same owners over The Park, which closed in 2005.

In Egremont, the council has imposed an improvement notice on two boarded-up Main Street properties – the former Red Lion pub and Tommy Kelly’s clothes shop.

Mr Starkie said the buildings’ owners have “responded positively” to the order and have started working with the council towards their improvement.

Two Frizington sites have also been targeted by Copeland; an improvement notice has been served on the owner of a residential caravan on the outskirts of the village, and construction-type fencing around The Griffin pub is being monitored, says Mr Starkie, and “formal action will be taken if it remains in the long term”.

And in Cleator Moor, a “disgraceful” grot spot which blighted a couple’s view for five years has been removed.

The makeshift dumping ground directly opposite Joan and John Poulart’s home on Queen Street had been accumulating rubbish – which could not be removed because it was on privately-owned land.

The couple, both 64, started a Facebook campaign aiming to rid the town of the mess and encourage others to highlight grot spots.

Last week, following an article in The Whitehaven News , Copeland Council used a digger to scoop out the pile of rubbish, according to Joan. “We’re both delighted,” she said.

“It looks a million times better and we were surprised how quickly it all happened.”

Mr Starkie said: “Many of the dilapidated buildings and grot spots in Copeland have been there for years.

“The task of dealing with this and making progress is not something that can be achieved overnight but it has began in earnest and will be followed through with all the powers available to this council.

“I have a team set up within the council that meets every two weeks to drive this policy forward as it is key to regenerating and revitalising all our town centres.

“We welcome members of the public highlighting where issues exist and they will all be given attention. We also welcome approaches from owners of buildings and land that are in this category because positive dialogue will enable a quicker and often a more positive outcome.

“But rest assured, we will be relentless in making sure improvement happens.”