Buy them or bulldoze them! Action demanded over 'eyesore' Willenhall houses
Action has been demanded over two 'eyesore' houses in Willenhall which have been a blight on the neighbourhood for a quarter of a century.
Broken windows, blackening walls and shrubs growing out of the brickwork are just some of the sights which have graced residents on Lower Lichfield Street over the years.
The pair of properties painted in drab yellow and green and sit next door to each other, have been empty for around 25 years according to locals.
Walsall Council has admitted they have had trouble establishing who owns the rundown properties and it is suspected the landlords live abroad.
Councillor Carl Creaney, who represents Willenhall, claimed it was likely the buildings were being used by drug users and called for the council to buy them or bulldoze them. He said: "They have been derelict a good 25 years and they are basically an eyesore. I know the person who owns nearby properties who has tried to acquire them but he has just hit a brick wall. I know the council is pursuing enforcement but what they should be doing is making a compulsory purchase order or bulldoze them to get rid of the eyesore."
Councillor Creaney added: "They are overgrown with shrubs coming out of the windows and just used as a drugs den. It is common knowledge that any derelict building attracts drugs.
"The only power the local authority really has is to issue a section 215 notice which is basically a sticking plaster. If they can't get in touch with the owners the council should take the initiative and buy them themselves."
A report was tabled before councillors on Thursday providing an update on the situation. It said in July 2013 the authority received a letter from the owner vowing the buildings would be painted while the windows would be replaced and the roof would be repaired.
Officers last attended in April to discuss a way forward and wrote to the owners at the end of May to demand action.
The report said there had been 'difficulty demonstrating legal owner of the land' and the council was contemplating whether the issue was worthy of prosecution or whether they could take direct action themselves.
West Midlands Police were unable to confirm if the properties have been associated with drugs in recent years.
