The owners of a dilapidated former curry house are facing legal action to tidy up the building after being accused of "mugging off the people of Dereham".

Breckland Council has said it has applied for a court order against the owners of what used to be the Akaash Tandoori Restaurant in Dereham. 

The council said it has been in regular contact with the owners of the town centre building and outlined what works need to be carried out.

"Unfortunately, the deadline we set for these works hasn't been met so we are applying to the court for a legal order to be issued," a spokesman said.

In 2022, Breckland Council issued an enforcement notice against the owners, who had abandoned the building in 2015, for improvement work to be carried out to the front of the property. 

The work included external redecoration to the building, which remains vacant, and the removal of old signage.

However, since the notice has also expired, councillors have now called for further action.

Breckland Council said it was waiting for a court hearing date to be set. 

The legal order would mean the owners would have to fulfil the works required to return the Akaash building to its former glory. 

Ray O'Callaghan has often spoken out against the state of the building, and the damage it does for the aesthetic of the town centre.Ray O'Callaghan has often spoken out against the state of the building, and the damage it does for the aesthetic of the town centre. (Image: Denise Bradley)
Ray O'Callaghan, deputy mayor of Dereham said: "It is obvious that the owner of the Akaash has been kicking the can down the road, wasting everyone's time for years, making false promises and generally mugging off the people of Dereham. 

"This disgrace and blot on the landscape of our beautiful historic market town centre needs to be robustly dealt with.

"Hopefully we will soon have its former splendour returned," he said.

Linda Monument, Alison Webb and William Richmond, Breckland Council members for Dereham Neatherd ward, said in a joint statement that they had hoped the council's engagement would result in the building's improvement. 

“Unfortunately that hasn’t been the case," they said.

"We hope the legal system moves swiftly and that the building can finally be enhanced in due course.”