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Action call over rundown Walsall shopping centre

The owners of a run-down shopping centre in Brownhills could face action if they don't take steps to secure the site, which has been plagued by anti-social behaviour.

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Walsall Council is looking to serve a notice to the owners of Ravenscourt Shopping Centre, in Brownhills, ordering they tidy up the site, saying it will 'act as a catalyst for development'.

The site was at the centre of a failed multi-million pound supermarket revamp in 2014 and community leaders say there have been no concrete plans put forward since.

The site has deteriorated and is now plagued by anti-social behaviour. Council bosses will discuss its future at a meeting on Thursday.

A statement attached to a planning report reads: "In March, the owners of the site were in contact with the LPA to discuss enforcement action and the future of the site. Whilst progress was made in respect of scoping for a retail assessment, no firm proposals have been forthcoming.

"Officers are therefore looking again at the suitability of enforcement action to tidy up the site and act as a catalyst for development."

Councillor Kenneth Ferguson, who represents Brownhills, said the site had become 'an eyesore.

He said: "The situation is that we have been expecting a development here for some time, which hasn't happened for one reason or another.

"The site is being used by youths to drink and congregate in, which doesn't give off a good image and isn't a suitable use for what should be a popular shopping area.

"The police have been moving the youths on in recent months but we are contacting the owners to try and make sure the site is at least properly secured. As well as these concerns, the site has become an eyesore and a blot on the landscape.

"The sooner something is done the better, even if it is just a clean up and making sure the site is properly secured.

"In its current state, the Ravenscourt Shopping Precinct is dragging Brownhills down and not allowing to move forward."

The complex, off the main High Street, was poised to be taken over by neighbouring supermarket Tesco. But it later emerged that the overhaul of the shop, creating up to 150 jobs, had been abandoned.

In 2014, more than 500 people signed a petition calling on the council to take charge of the site via compulsory purchase, with a view to re-developing it 'in keeping with Brownhills High Street'.

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