Last week, council contractors started putting up scaffolding to begin urgent protection work on the clock tower.

But a council spokesman said the scaffolding company had to remove its workers after Stayton's staff threatened both the contractors and council officers with legal action.

Despite talks between lawyers for Stayton – Pioneer's owners – and the council, as well as an agreement that the scaffolding would remain until more discussions had taken place, the scaffold has now been fully dismantled.

Council leader Mehboob Khan pledged the work would be carried out and the council would get the police involved if it had to.

The council has now issued a repairs notice on the Grade II listed building, following what it called Stayton's "continued failure" to preserve it.

The notice gives details of the work necessary and is the first stage in the council's bid to use compulsory purchase powers to buy the Northgate building.

Coun Khan said: "This is an important building to Dewsbury and we will not stand by while the owners allow it to deteriorate any further. We are in talks with several parties, including the administrators for one of Stayton's companies, and we are absolutely determined to protect Pioneer House."

A Stayton spokesman said: "Stayton can confirm we have received the repairs notice from Kirklees. We believe the notice to be seriously flawed.

"Our recent structural engineers report, asked for by the council, shows the building remains totally structurally sound.

"This notice is simply the latest move by the council to try and acquire the building for nothing."