Wolverhampton former care home costs taxpayers £134,000

A former care home in a Wolverhampton suburb has cost taxpayers £134,000 in the four years that it has been sitting empty.

Wolverhampton City Council received £120,000 as a deposit by a potential buyer for Muchall Grove in Penn, but the deal fell through and the money has had to be used to help maintenance and security costs.

The former council centre for adults with learning difficulties closed in 2007 but a new bidder is now interested in buying it. It had previously been a home for the elderly and was built in the 1960s.

The council has been trying to auction the site since 2008 but has had no takers with bosses blaming the downturn in the property market.

It had originally been hoped the sale of the land would have netted the council an estimated £1.8million.

Former councillor John Mellor uncovered the costs using the Freedom of Information Act and passed the information to the Express & Star.

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