Wolverhampton site is 'haunt for drinkers and drug addicts'

The land, in Church Road, linking Stafford Road and Three Tuns Lane, has become a site of anti-social behaviour, according to councillor Ian Angus, Labour councillor for Bushbury North.

Now the councillor has called for the owners to intervene to secure the site after a visit to the land revealed the extent of the problem.

Councillor Angus, who attended the site visit with the police, members of the council and concerned residents last week, believed the group interrupted a drug deal when they arrived.

He said: "There were a number men hanging around, on their mobile phones, acting suspiciously.

"It was obvious what they were doing, but they scarpered as we got closer."

The well-known patch of land used to be quite picturesque spot for the local residents to enjoy, including an orchard.

Councillor Angus continued: "Last year, the land had a chronic issues with fly tipping. so the owner was issued a notice by the council to remove the rubbish, clean the land up and take appropriate measures to make sure it was secured and maintained in the future.

"The bulk of the area is fenced off but about 8ft still is not. A good fence would have solved the problem, but now the problem has become drug dealing and drug taking.

"The land is right in the heart of a residential area, and residents, quite rightly, have had enough of it.

"I hope this will spur the owner on to arrange for the land to be brought up to a certain standard and to properly secure and if it doesn't it will only cost them more money to keep doing this in the future."

The councillor is also worried about the use of the land by children, who may think the site is an exciting place to play.

"The land is really classic den territory, the place children may like to go to play, but when you see what's going on, with all the needles on the ground, I'm concerned about their safety."

"Indeed, a new neighbourhood park is shortly to be built by the developers responsible for the housing along the former Goodyear's site, and the entrance to that is planned to be on Church Road, with young children and families walking past. So the time is of the essence to make sure that this land is secure and safe for everyone."

Barleycorne Estates were unavailable for comment.