Action over Walsall eyesores left to rot for years

The authority's planning committee will meet on Thursday to discuss 23 enforcement action notices that have been sent out to developers accused of flouting local planning rules.

The notices, issued by the council, cover three disused buildings labelled 'unsightly' and a residential property that was turned into a car repairs workshop.

Councillor Mohammed Nazir, chair of tthe committee, said he will be seeking assurance from officers that each is being looked into properly.

He said: "What we have said as a council is that we will look to take enforcement action whenever it is needed to make sure we stay on top of rogue operations at properties.

"The downside of developments that don't comply with regulations is that it sets a precident and often the public are left with buildings that are out of place or out of character.

"I will be looking to get assurances from our officers that with the developments where we can take enforcement action that we do so or work hard to come to an agreeable conclusion."

The longest running planning saga to be discussed involves the owners of Capital Leisure on Newport Street, near to the town centre, who were first subject to enforcement action back in 2004.

The council's complaints relate to owners installing second floor windows and painting the outside of the listed building. A report into the site claims an invalid planning application has been submitted in an attempt to address the breaches while discussions continue.

'Unsightly' empty properties on Lower Lichfield Street in Willenhall are still a concern for planning bosses, despite being given assurance that work would be done to improve their image back in 2013.

A report into the current situation at the properties reads: "These are unsightly void properties. A letter was received in July 2013 which set out intention to paint, replace glass and repair the roof within a month. No works were carried out."

Owners of the properties have been hit with a section 215 notice by the authority.

Enforcement action has also been issued in relation to a home on Halford Crescent that was turned into a car repairs workshop in 2014.

Despite owners originally complying with council requirements to stop using the site for this purpose, it appears that the problem may have developed once again.

A report reads: "Officers have recently been advised of a number of vehicles returning to the property and this is currently being investigated.

"The requirements of the notice remain on the land in perpetuity so if the breach returns officers will re-evaluate the current position."