Sale of former care home going ahead

The sale of a former day care centre in Stourbridge with an estimated price tag of £400,000 is still ploughing forward according to council chiefs, despite residents' fears it has been left to rot.

Officials from Dudley Council confirmed terms had been agreed between officers and a mystery buyer for the disused Audnam Centre back in July.

But residents are concerned nothing has happened to the building since then and the site, in Audnam, remains boarded up.

Council bosses today said the sale was still going ahead but that discussions were taking place between solicitors to finalise the finer points of the deal.

They said that no further details about its sale would be released until the talks have been completed.

Residents in the area have long called for the site to be used and have complained the building has become an eyesore on one of the town's main gateways. One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "When we were told the site was going to be sold it was a relief because the building has now been closed for sometime and is starting to look really grubby. However the last we heard about it now was months ago and nothing has still happened with the building. Hopefully some progress will be made soon."

Council bosses are remaining tight-lipped about the identity of the buyer.

A previous deal for the site fell through at the 11th hour, leaving the authority with no choice but to find another buyer.

The Audnam Centre closed in December 2006 after it was declared surplus to requirements by Dudley Council.

The authority has carried out clean-ups of the site since then with boards put up to protect the windows.

Residents have also complained the site had become overgrown and the shabby building did not give the right impression of the area.