Latest news with #eyesore
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Calls for progress on Abingdon Upper Reaches Hotel hotel site
A disused hotel has become an "eyesore" over 10 years without progress on its redevelopment, campaigners have Upper Reaches Hotel, situated alongside the River Thames in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, closed in Friends of Abingdon group has urged Vale of White Horse District Council, which owns the freehold of the site to "take action to speed up a resolution".The council said it was "still awaiting" firm proposals from the tenant Contemporary Hotels. The hotel company has been approached for comment. The Friends of Abingdon group said progress at the site had been "glacial" since said repairs to the riverside wall and measures to prevent vandalism and anti-social behaviour had only been carried out after it had raised concerns with the council."The presence of such an eyesore at the entrance to the town makes it look unloved and gives a very bad signal not just to local people and visitors but also to businesses who might be considering setting up here," it said. Resident Gwyneth Lewis who lives close to the site said: "We had massive problems with anti-social behaviour - the whole building was ransacked over eight years."This is a beautiful riverside setting, this blot on the landscape is only getting worse and worse."We are not against development - we just want something to happen."The area occupied by the hotel buildings and its immediate surroundings is on a 125-year lease from 1969, currently held by Contemporary Hotels a statement the council said it was "engaged" with the company and had encouraged it to provide updates on its plans."As landowner, we have not yet been made aware of any specific development plans but we are informed that a design team is appointed to prepare plans for discussion with the Local Planning Authority in advance of submitting a planning application by the end of 2025."It said the hotelier had undertaken essential repair work to the river wall and bridge linking the site to Thames Street. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Shrewsbury bridge streets 'an absolute eyesore' due to pigeon poo
Streets under a bridge in Shrewsbury have been called an "absolute eyesore" by one visitor to the town who was disgusted by the build up of pigeon poo. Devereux Biddlecomb told the BBC the pavements under the train bridges on Chester Street and Castle Foregate were caked in pigeon poo and the "grotty state" was spoiling the town's beauty. Deputy leader of Shropshire Council, Alex Wagner, said it needs permission from Network Rail to improve the netting on the bridges, where the birds roost."It is the number one problem in my inbox for the area," Wagner said. Network Rail who owns the bridges, has been contacted for a response. Liberal Democrat Wagner added while the council has plans to improve the area, it needed to go "step by step" as there would be no point on doing a big clear up, until the netting was Rail improved the netting in 2021 and while Vagner said it helped, it only solved the issue for a short while."It is clear we need more netting, perhaps the meshing is more hardcore and metal rather than the sort of string we have at the moment," he said. He added the bridges and paths underneath formed a key linkway which "tens of thousands of people have as their main pedestrian route". Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Dried-up Runcorn park boating lake 'an embarrassment'
A dried-up boating lake has been described as an "eyesore" and an "embarrassment". Hundreds of residents in Runcorn are calling on Halton Council to sort out the attraction in Heaton Park. The low-level of the once thriving attraction has prompted fears for wildlife. Halton Council leader Mike Wharton said the authority was trying to "make progress as quickly as possible". Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside's Hot Seat programme, Halton Council leader Mike Wharton said while lack of rainfall had had an effect on the water said there was a significant amount of work to be done with United Utilities and the Environment Agency to get the water levels back Arrowsmith, who runs the park's model boat club, said while there had been low water levels before there had been "nothing as bad as this"."The sides are giving in and we can't sail a boat," he said."They just hit the bottom and it scrapes the bottoms off." Council leader Wharton said the lake needed new pipes running into it, "but it's not that easy"."United Utilities have told us that we need to run a pipe from a reservoir and as we know at the moment reservoirs are running low," he added it was "brilliant" that so many people cared about the lake and the authority was working "to restore it to the way it was"."It's an embarrassment to me and that's why we want to make progress as quickly as possible."A United Utilities spokesman said: "We had a productive meeting with Halton Council and are continuing to look at how we can support them with a long term solution to refilling the lake." Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Former Rolls Royce factory becomes major fly-tipping dump, leaving families nearby with appalling eyesore
Furious neighbours living next to a former Rolls Royce factory have lashed out after litterbugs transformed the site in a vast fly-tipping dump. The famed British manufacturer left the site in East Kilbride in Scotland in 2015 to move operations closer to Glasgow Airport. But while part of the old factory site has been redeveloped for housing - a section of it at Law Place has been left abandoned. And neighbours have now demanded action and say it's become an eyesore - with mountains of fly-tipped tyres and other rubbish left strewn across it. Huge mounds of rubbish, including fridges, tyres, insulation, sofas and wooden fencing are among the vast loads of unwanted good illegally ditched on the land. Fuming locals say they have even caught culprits on camera dumping waste at the site - but authorities have failed to act. Angry local Michael McClorey said: 'I've been here for about four years, and the land has always been derelict with nothing on it. 'It's been more so in the past year and a half that it's gotten worse. Looking at it now, there's rubbish all over the land. 'I'm not expecting beautiful scenery in a city - but instead I'm looking out at old tyres and piles of rubbish. It's really having a very negative effect. 'We look out at it all the time - that's all we can see. It's not nice to be looking out on. 'I'm not trying to sell my house - but this would definitely have an impact on selling prospects. It looks awful.' Michael said there had been talks of turning the site into a new housing development - which he says he strongly encourages - but says nothing has materialised. He added: 'People have contacted the council previously - I was in contact with a councillor in 2022 to talk about what's happening with the land. 'Nothing was ever put in place. 'Last year, we were told that an application had been put in to develop the land into a new-build development, but we've not heard anything since then. 'I would like to see the land cleared of rubbish - that's the priority. 'I would like to see new houses there, to bring more people into the area and make it a bit nicer to look out. 'I really hope the council have a look at doing something about it.' The site was once a major aero-engine repair and maintenance plant until it closed a decade ago, with the council stating the land is privately owned. Another resident, who asked to remain anonymous, was able to record footage of a white pickup truck dropping off rubbish at the site. They said: 'It's an eyesore mostly, however I wouldn't be surprised if it has added to the number of pests and flies that make their way in to our garden. 'In addition, there are fires that have been happening within the waste, likely releasing chemicals into the atmosphere. 'There is a tall pile of tyres - if this was the next thing to catch fire this would cause major issues and is only meters away from our boundary fence. 'The fire brigade have also had to attend the scene several times. 'We have contacted the council, who stated it was private land so they couldn't help. 'We then contacted our local MP who was more responsive in helping but so far haven't achieved much. They are currently investigating who owns the land. 'I understand that several other residents of the estate have done the same thing.' Kevin Carr, Head of Facilities, Waste and Grounds Services at South Lanarkshire Council, said: 'Fly tipping is the result of unacceptable behaviour and illegal action by a small number of people who do not dispose of their waste in a fit and proper manner. 'It is a blight on our communities, and the council takes this criminal activity very seriously. 'Although the council is not responsible for fly-tipping on private land, our Environmental Crime team will still investigate any reports made to us and, where possible, inform the landowner. 'However, local authorities don't have statutory powers to require the waste is removed.'
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Calls for Loftus 'eyesore' pub to be improved
Calls have been made for a plan to be drawn up to improve an eyesore former pub at the entrance of a Royal Hotel has lain empty on the side of A174 leading into Loftus for many years and a for sale sign was recently put up plans to turn it into an apartment-style hotel and supported living flats did not materialise, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said."It is a building in dire need of repair and slap bang next to a public footpath, and we need to make sure it is safe," Redcar and Cleveland Council's Loftus ward representative Wayne Davies said. 'Massive carbuncle' The independent councillor told a council meeting it was "the last eyesore" in the town, after a number of interventions on other buildings."We will keep pressing and it may have to go down the enforcement route," he councillor Tim Gray claimed the appearance of the Royal Hotel was affecting tourism in the area."It is a massive carbuncle and can't be left in the state it is," he added he was hoping to meet with an enforcement officer at the Labour-led council to discuss the building."The Royal holds a lot of memories for people," he said."I bought my first legal pint there and had my wedding reception in there, and that's why I am passionate about it." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
