FLY-TIPPING at a former pub in Hester's Way has prompted concerned residents to call for action.

Householders near the old Goat and Bicycle site in Hester's Way Road, said a sofa and mattress, along with black bags and litter, had been dumped there.

The owner of the land said they had not been told about the problem, but work on a new housing development was about to start.

Cheltenham Borough Councillor Peter Jeffries said residents had contacted him about fly-tipping in the area, with one saying rats had been spotted.

Mr Jeffries (LD, Springbank) said: "Four residents from the road have contacted me about it.

"One of them says he has seen rats.

"Any concerns residents have in relation to rubbish and rats, I take seriously.

"I will be contacting Environmental Health and the owner of the site."

In March last year, a planning application for 11 houses and six apartments was approved by planners.

Members of the community objected to the plans, with many people believing they would increase antisocial behaviour in the area.

Mr Jeffries said: "As with a lot of empty sites at the moment, people can't understand why they have got planning permission and haven't been developed.

"Fortunately, with this particular site I'm aware that the owner has been in communication with the council to satisfy planning conditions before he starts work, so there is some comfort that there is some movement for residents that they will not have to live with the situation much longer."

Yvonne Hope, public and environment health manager for Cheltenham Borough Council, said: "We have had a report of vermin at the site, but our officers inspected the site and found no evidence. We have been advised of the fly-tipping issues and they will be investigated."

Guy Wooddisse, managing director of Bayhill Property, the Cheltenham-based development company that owns the site, said: "We had not been made aware that there is fly-tipping on the site. The site has been secured with fencing since we bought it.

"I will go up there and have a look now that I am aware of it, but the development is due to start in March this year in any case.

"It is an affordable housing project that has been funded by the Government.

"The Government has been slow in releasing funding.

"We are ecstatic that it is getting under way. The first thing we will do is tidy up the site to be able to do the work."