Families in plea for eyesore land tidy-up

Residents are demanding the clean-up of an empty patch of land in Wednesbury they say has become an eyesore.

They complain that the plot has become a magnet for vandals and litter — and a dead Staffordshire bull terrier puppy was found discarded at the site in a plastic bag this week.

People living near the land in Bilston Road, which is owned by West Bromwich-based Turford Bros Ltd, are demanding action.

Barry Martin, chairman of the Bilston Road residents association, said: "It was an old house and shop years ago, then they demolished them and fenced the land off, but it is just a dumping ground, everyone puts their rubbish on it.

"It is mostly beer cans and household rubbish, but this week we found a Staffordshire bull terrier pup in there. Something needs to be done and soon."

The land has been owned by Oak Lane-based Turfords for more than two years and was intended for housing. The company said today that work has been carried out to clean up the site and they hoped to start building work soon.

Wednesbury Councillor Elaine Costigan, said: "We are calling on Turfords to keep their eye on the site.

"It's not fair on the residents. It needs to be kept tidy."

John Turford, owner of Turford Bros Ltd, said work on the housing had been on hold because of the economic climate, but it was hoped to begin soon.

He said: "We bought it about two-and-a-half years ago. It is in a bad way. We have been down there to clean up.

"We have got planning to build two houses and will be starting work in the next three months.