Garage clearance site fires raise concerns
Residents on a housing estate have raised concerns about waste materials being burned at a former council-owned garages site that backs on to their homes.
Householders in Ashmore Park, Wednesfield, have complained about fires taking place during the clearance of former garages in Parry Road – the second site on the estate to be sold to private developers.
Councillor Phil Bateman said he had received several complaints from residents about the way in which the site was being cleared – presumably for a future planning application to be made, he added.
“I’ve been told that whichever individual or company has bought this site is burning rubbish and debris with no thought for anyone living nearby and people are getting fed up with it.
“The new owners can obviously demolish the garages without consent and make a site clearance. When the site has been cleared the owner will then – it’s assumed – make a bid for planning permission for it,” said Councillor Bateman.
“Setting fires and the nuisance this has caused to local neighbours is not acceptable and has to be done in line with the law.”
A resident living nearby, who did not wish to be named, said: “With the weather being as warm as it has been lately, having someone burning things in the open air near to people’s houses is very intrusive.
“There was a lot of thick, grey smoke coming from the site and it was very, very heavy in the air. I don’t know what exactly was being burned but it was coming from the garages.”
Councillor Bateman added: “The council’s Environmental Health team made a visit to the site after I got in touch.
“Officials informed the owner that he had been committing a nuisance, and I’m told he was served with Community Protection Order.
“I would urge anyone to contact local councillors if they hear of any further problems.”
The Parry Road site is the second on the estate to be sold to a private owner. Former garages in Ashmore Avenue, which had been subjected to repeated vandalism, were sold late last year.
Councillor Bateman said it was expected that the new owners would be seeking to use the sites for housing.
