DRASTIC action is planned to force the Thandi Partnership to pull down the part-built Castle Hill hotel.

No work has been done yet, even though the deadline for it to come down is January 11.

This is only four weeks ago and it includes the Christmas and new year holiday.

The Thandis dropped their appeal against a Kirklees Council enforcement notice which stopped them from continuing building on the site in November.

Under the terms of that order they must now demolish what they had already built because it does not match up to what was originally agreed.

But Kirklees Council planning officers are worried that work has not yet begun.

In a report to go before councillors on Thursday officers recommend that a solicitor seeks an injunction to force the Thandis to comply.

In the report development control manager Edward Wills says: "An appeal by the Thandi Partnership against an enforcement notice was withdrawn on November 15.

"The partially-built structure must now be demolished and the site cleared and restored by January 11.

"The appellants have said they will comply with the requirements of the notice by January 11. However, officers are concerned the appellants do not yet appear to have made a start on site or even indicated to the council a likely start date for the demolition works."

Although the Thandi Partnership were granted permission to build on Castle Hill the land is owned by Kirklees Council.

Clr John Smithson has called for the public to have their say about what happens on Castle Hill. He believes the council is doing the right thing by putting pressure on the Thandis.

He said: "I am glad the council is taking a tough line about this and not simply letting it go unnoticed.

"We do have to be tough with the Thandi Partnership in order to get this building pulled down - there is no way out of it for them. I think everyone will be much happier once it is down. Then we can move on."

The Thandi Partnership were ordered to halt building the proposed pub and hotel in May after council officers discovered it was being built too big and too high.

A public hearing was planned for next week so the partnership could appeal against the stop notice slapped on the development by the council. However the Thandis decided to withdraw their appeal.

The Partnership declined to comment.