YOUNGSTERS are risking their lives climbing on the dilapidated former naval block on Portland.

Police have warned people that they are risking their lives after several people were spotted on the top storeys of the building.

A spokesman for Portland Neighbourhood Police Team said: “We would like to remind the community, that the old naval flats next to Atlantic House, are strictly out of bounds.

“The site is private property, and no one should be going inside.

"The site is extremely dangerous. Please do not risk your life by going inside this building.”

The warning comes just days after councillors heard the Navy accommodation block is likely to be left undeveloped.

Dorset Council says the financial risks of it taking the building on is out of the question and all it can do is ensure the site is secure.

The question was raised by Portland councillor Paul Kimber.

He told Thursday’s council meeting that the Hardy Block at Castletown had been “an eyesore and a danger to the Portland community without being resolved for years.”

He said there were photographs showing young people climbing on the building which was clearly a danger to them and others. Given the dangers regarding this building what stronger action does the council intend to take in respect of completely clearing the site or the consideration of a compulsory purchase?” he said.

But the council’s planning brief holder Cllr David Walsh said there was little the authority could, reasonably do, without taking a massive financial risk.

He said the building, also known as Prince Andrew House, did have planning consent for 554 residential units, involving a mix of new-build and conversion by converting the block into 157 homes and creating others on the site.

“However, this is a difficult and expensive site to develop and viability has proved to be a key stumbling block, in spite of a previous award of money through the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund.   "Unfortunately, this was still not sufficient to make the scheme viable and so the money could not be drawn down.

"In the absence of a substantial capital injection, completion of the scheme is therefore likely require a significant change in market conditions,” he said.

Cllr Walsh said council officers had inspected the building and found it to be structurally sound and were satisfied that the owners had done all they could to make the site secure from trespassers.

“This will be monitored but it is relevant to note that unauthorised access to private land is a responsibility for the owner and potentially a police matter,” he said.

He said that for the council to use compulsory purchase it would requires ministerial approval which was only likely to be given where there is a compelling case in the public interest.

“In any event Dorset Council would need to be prepared to shoulder the financial cost, and subsequent risk, in taking such action, including any potential compensation liabilities under the provisions of the Compulsory Purchase Act. I would advise Council that now is not the appropriate time to be taking on such risks and the balance of public interest currently would not lie with embarking upon the acquisition via CPO of this site.”