'Dragging the whole town down': Flies infest disused Willenhall hairdressers
A closed hairdressers has sparked concern from community leaders after becoming infested with hundreds of flies.
Environmental health officers have been called to take action over the former business in Market Place, Willenhall.
The hairdressers, which was called Chic Hair & Beauty Salon, was closed about five months ago.
But since then the windows have been smashed by vandals with rubbish left inside.
Willenhall South Councillor Sean Coughlan said he was concerned about the impact the derelict building was having on the town.
He said: "The shop has been empty for about five months and has now been brought to my attention.
"Most people were expecting the turnover of business to be quite quick and for someone to be using the building by now.
"It started going on for a long time and eventually one of the windows was broken and then we started getting complaints about it.
"Despite it being winter time people started noticing flies appearing."
Councillor Coughlan said he had been assured by the council's environmental health team that rubbish was removed in November, with further plans to clean up the whole place ready for a new business to move in.
He said: "That was never done so I was asked to get involved again because the shop next door, which sells sweets, starting noticing flies on her windows.
"The shop on the other side, which does everything from selling bulbs to getting keys cut, also started having problems with flies.
"Again I was assured someone would come out and again nothing happened to sort it out.
"The final straw was on Saturday when the market traders took me to one side and showed me the state of the shop now.
"It is covered in hundreds of flies and it's got to the stage now where it is dragging down the whole town.
"We are supposed to be supporting the regeneration of Willenhall so this sort of thing is not good."
David Elrington, environmental health manager at Walsall Council, said environmental health officers were aware of the problem and in discussions with the owners of the property.
He said: "Officers will advise them on an appropriate treatment and clearance plan as a way forward."
