Action to be taken over eyesore site in Churchdown
ENFORCEMENT action has been threatened against a land owner if no action is taken to clean up an eyesore in Churchdown.
Foxes have taken up residence on waste land at 174 Cheltenham Road East since its previous owners sold the land. They had failed to get planning permission for a takeaway there, which was believed to be a Subway sandwich store.
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Residents in Parton Road say foxes are now breeding on the land, with at least five cubs spotted there in recent weeks.
Tewkesbury borough councillor for Churchdown, Kay Berry, said action will be taken if the problem isn't resolved.
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"The adult foxes are getting more confident and are becoming aggressive," she said. "Some of the elderly people living there are getting quite scared now. The foxes are out of control and going through the bins so something needs to be done.
"Tewkesbury Borough Council has been very good in trying to get that area sorted out, but there is only so much it can do as it does not own the land.
"It has managed to trace the new owner who offered to clear the land up, but nothing has been done yet. We are getting desperate now as it is a real eyesore and there are health and safety concerns to consider. The best thing that could happen to the land is for new homes to be built there. If it is not sorted out, enforcement action has to be taken."
Previous owners Arkorn Developments sold the land, but planning permission for a retail unit on the land remains.
A spokesman for Churchdown Parish Council said: "Residents have become alarmed at the number of foxes and have said it has become a bit of a mess. They are concerned the land is getting very overgrown and out of control."
Tewkesbury Borough Council's development control manager Paul Skelton said: "The council's environmental health and planning enforcement teams are looking into this area of land to see if any action can be taken under respective legislation."
Comments
by bonzaharris1
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 8:01PM
“They ought to pop along the road a bit and have a look at 6 pirton lane, that house has been empty for years, since the elderly lady who lived there went into a home, and who has since died over a year ago. There is a family of foxes living there too, but they have at least solved the rat problem !!”
by eyeopener
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 2:40PM
“@valhalla2010 I can well understand that residents are up in arms about the mess. The landowner needs to tidy up. That said, there used to be a similar looking site on Cheltenham's High Street next to the railway bridge. Had the site received planning permission as a Takeaway, you might instead have had just as much mess but distributed along the pavement, with an alternative wildlife of seagulls instead of foxes.
The article states "The foxes are out of control and going through the bins so something needs to be done, but the foxes are not a real threat." Thats all true, they are not a real threat and what needs to be done is for the residents to recycle properly.
We have foxes around where I live and we ensure that all waste food, especially waste meat is placed in the food bins. The fastenable lid prevents access and the escape of aromas likely to attract animals. As well known meerkat puts it "Simples really!"”
by valhalla2010
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 1:59PM
“What will happen to the foxes? Will the same folk that want the badger cull stopped come along and stick up for them?
Watch this space...”
by Alphonso2
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 11:25AM
“Perhaps Tewkesbury Borough Council will also clamp down on the large number of advertising signs in front of the GL3 Hub, making it look like a tacky used car lot.”
by cofcleeve
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 11:09AM
“what wildlife living near people how awful !!! get a grip”
by daveofglos
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 9:53AM
“Why not turn it into a wildlife park - or a village green? :-)”