Latest news with #eyesore
BBC News
6 hours 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
13 hours 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.
News.com.au
11-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Melbourne's biggest eyesore listed for sale by China's Wang Hua
Melbourne's biggest eyesore has been listed for sale with industry sources indicating it could sell for north of $62m. The former Cancer Council building at 1-23 Rathdowne St has been deteriorating for more than a decade amid a number of failed attempts to gain development approval since ultrawealthy Chinese man Wuang Hua bought it for about $21m in 2013. The property was listed for sale late on Friday in a definitive sign he has given up on developing the controversial site, which carries significant overshadowing overlays for the Carlton Gardens across the road. Toorak land now asking $40m with no permit Inside East Sunbury's new $80m shopping village The site is understood to have a six-storey height limit under council planning regulations. The property has had complaints raised over vandalism, vermin and anti-social behaviour. It's also had planning proposals to turn it into a luxury home tower rejected, most recently in 2022 when Mr Hua had sought to establish a 13-storey tower at the address. The property has been listed by Ascend Real Estate's Chen Sun who said he had already had interest in the property, and expected it would most likely attract the attention of interstate or international developers with deep pockets. Mr Sun would not disclose a price expected for the property, but indicated that with expressions of interest due by September 18, it was hoped the new owner could take control of the property before the end of the year. 'It just needs time to find the right buyer,' he said. Commercial property expert Mark Wizel said the property could have a future as a health precinct development, but would also appeal as a residential tower — so long as issues around overshadowing concerns could be overcome. Mr Wizel said a square metre rate of $20,000 was not infeasible, and that redevelopment would be a boon for the 'unloved' space that outlived its use as a small-scale office building. Across the property's 3106sq m size, that would translate to more than $62m. 'It's probably a rare development site at the moment that does have the potential to stack up from a feasibility point of view, because the going rates for apartments in that location would significantly outperform the rest of the market,' Mr Wizel said. City of Melbourne acting lord mayor Roshena Campbell said they hoped the sale would mean a new beginning for the property. 'We know there is a keen interest in the next chapter of 1 Rathdowne Street. Council stands ready to support the redevelopment of this critical corner of the city,' Ms Campbell said. Last year, former Lord Mayor Sally Capp described the property as one of the top sites that the City was hoping would be developed — potentially even higher up the list than multiple already demolished sites along King St. She had previously named it on her list of city's worst eyesores in 2018. The property was slated for a $5m revamp to improve it in 2019, but remains covered in graffiti and continues to prompt concerns from local residents today. Mr Hua's controversial ownership of the Carlton address is not his family's only involvement in Melbourne's property market. In 2015, his wife, Xiaoyan 'Kylie' Bao, spent about $18.6m buying a 16 St Georges Rd, Toorak, mansion, before demolishing it despite the City of Stonnington seeking interim heritage protection for the home. It is understood that property, still a bare patch of dirt, has been quietly offered to buyers in the elite suburb with suggestions it could top $40m. RT Edgar's Jack Edgar is taking interest in the home and said last month that there was renewed international interest in Melbourne's priciest postcode.
