Kearsley: 'Absolute eyesore' property on Medway Drive

The dilapidated house is on Medway Drive in Kearsley, and has been causing concern for around three years now according to residents and councillors.

They fear that not only is the house an ‘eyesore’, but that it could devalue other properties nearby and attract dubious visitors.

Cllr Debbie Newall, of One Kearsley, said: “The residents asked us if we could go to the council to ask them to tidy it up a bit.

“We’ve been out there now but enforcement have said that that’s basically the best they can do with it.

Medway Drive (Image: Public)

“So I’ve been up again and again asking is there not some way we can escalate this?”

She added: “I think probably the bottom line is that they won’t take anything to court that they’re not 100 per cent sure they’re going to win because of the costs involved.”

Cllr Newall explained that the renovated house was bought three years ago and was subject to planning applications for the last two years until they were refused late last year.

A house next door, where an elderly man recently passed away was occupied until early this year until the resident died on New Year's day.

According to Cllr Newall although the elderly man was concerned with the developments next door, his property was not affected.

Neighbours now fear if his property is left unoccupied for a length of time it might make the situation worse.

But it is the property next door that she is asking for enforcement action to be taken against.

Cllr Newall said: “It’s such a shame for those residents because its an absolute eyesore and it used to be lovely around that area with those cottages.”

Her colleague Cllr Paul Heslop says that he too has attended public meetings were people told him how concerned they were about the state of the house.

Paul Fagan, who lives nearby, said the house has become known as the ‘rubble ruin’ as has long been a cause of concern.

He has also questioned why the property cannot be dealt with in the same way a similarly dilapidated house was on Plodder Lane at the end of last year.

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In that case, the owners were ordered to remove glass, plastic, wood and other materials from around the site

Mr Fagan said: “These events have been ongoing for three years and we appealed to council to push enforcement to clear the site because it was completely derelict.

“It’s wholly unacceptable for residents to see it daily plus there has been no progress building wise for 18 months.”