Local residents deserve to be rid of eyesore empty property

Lib Dem Councillor for Patching Hall, Ashley Final is calling for an empty Chelmer Housing Partnership property in Eves Crescent (no. 34/36) to be brought back into use to provide much needed rented social housing. The very large house - once a pair of semis - has stood empty and boarded up for well over a year and is now much used as a local dumping ground for litter and (some say) an invitation to illicit drinking and drugging.

Cllr Final said "What a waste, why the delay?! I've been assuming that this was to be renovated and brought back into use, but no-one is taking responsibility it seems. I continue to ask Chelmer Housing Partnership what their plans are - this property should be brought back into use; if it's already beyond repair, demolition and rebuilding is overdue".

Cllr. Graham Pooley, Lib Dem spokesman for Housing at the Borough Council, is seeking an explanation and pressing for action. He said: "if CHP continue to leave this property to deteriorate, the Council has powers to make sure houses don't stand empty like this. Given the shortage of affordable housing, the length of the waiting list for social housing, and families in overcrowded accommodation, this one must not be left any longer with nothing done. And the local residents deserve to be rid of this eyesore."