Legal action is being taken against the owner of the Old Courthouse building in Cockermouth.
The building collapsed into the River Cocker on October 8 and forced the closure of Cocker Bridge due to safety concerns.
Cumberland Council had to carry out emergency work on the Grade II-listed building and create a covered pedestrian walkway over the bridge, which still remains closed to vehicles.
The council said it has told the building’s owner – a London businessman who bought the property for around £50,000 – that it needs access to the Old Courthouse and will soon serve a notice on him so it can carry out urgent work.
It said it was in ongoing talks with partners including Historic England.
Agencies are continuing to work together to protect public safety. Access is required to the site to undertake further survey work which will inform how and what work can be undertaken.
Some exterior assessments of the site have already been undertaken a LiDAR survey which has provided a 3D map of the building.
A contractor is continuing to work with the council to assess access to the site and is helping to determine how any works could be undertaken.
The bridge over the River Cocker continues to remain closed to traffic, as a precautionary measure, but a new walkway is available for pedestrians and cyclists. This opened on Thursday 12 October.
Temporary traffic lights have been installed in Kirkgate and on-street parking in this area has been suspended to help manage the flow of traffic through the town.
The river embankment has been fenced off in the potential drop zone.
A Cumberland Council spokesman said: “Our officers have been working hard behind the scenes and following the partial collapse took immediate action to protect public safety.
“Following legal advice, we have taken steps to gain access to the building to assess the quickest and safest way to take action that would then allow us to reopen the Cocker bridge to traffic.
“This is a complex site and public safety is our main priority.
“We will do all we can to reopen the bridge to the vehicles as soon as we can but in the meantime, we have installed a covered walkway for pedestrians and cyclists.
“Cockermouth is open for business. Please continue to support local traders.”
The Environment Agency constructed a wall of sandbags along the River Cocker last week to block floodwater entering the town ahead of rain that was expected. It is monitoring the river levels after much of the rubble from the collapse has remained in the river, causing concern over increased flood risks.
