ONE of Colchester’s most important town centre buildings could be left as an eyesore for years.

Steve Peri, owner of the former Odeon, in Crouch Street, said he had no plans for the site after council bosses blocked him from turning it into a nightclub.

The building is now in a state of disrepair and Mr Peri said he was surprised no one had been killed at the site, as children frequently broke in.

The council has confirmed it has no powers to make the building safer, or more attractive, and other traders have now called for a U-turn over the planning decision to resolve the issue.

A listed building two doors away could be converted to flats, but Mr Peri said he did not think that would be likely for the former Odeon.

He said: “At the moment nothing is going to happen at the site, with the economy being as it is, and I don’t think flats would be an option. It is not something I am planning.

“But if I sold it now, would I make my money back? I don’t think so. Maybe four or five years ago, but now I would make a loss.

“I don’t regret buying it – I paid cash for it.”

“But I am surprised no one has been killed there. Kids get in there and run about. They get up on the roof.

“We boarded it up, but it just keeps happening and someone is going to be seriously hurt.”

Mr Peri said he blamed the council for the situation.

His plans to turn the building into a nightclub had been up for approval before the planning committee, but were refused after objections from residents.

Richard Allen, of Owen Aves opticians, said Crouch Street was once the “Regent Street” of Colchester, but it now looked tacky and messy.

He added: “The Odeon building is an absolute eyesore. It is incredibly sad that the owners and council have not been able to find a way of sorting something out.

“Something has got to be done, but I can’t blame the owner. I think a nightclub would be better than it is looking today.”

Jo Dilworth, of Dilly at Abbotts flowers, said she could not understand why permission had not been given for the nightclub, because it was better than the place being left.

“I can understand people being angry that, just because he owns it, he can do what he wants and say ‘if I can’t build a nightclub, I’ll just let it rot’.

“I can see that side of things, but I also think it would be better to allow it to be turned into something.”

She said she was certain there were vagrants living at the site and that it was almost certainly rat-infested.

Michael Bastani, owner of Sam’s Pizza Place, said he feels the council should make a U-turn and allow Mr Peri to open a nightclub.

He said it did not make him angry nothing was being done on the upkeep of the building.

Mr Bastani added: “I actually feel we are living in a democratic country and the council should let him build a nightclub. It has been left like this because he was not allowed in the first place.

“I think it would create more jobs and bring in more business rates for the council.”