A town’s former football ground has been vandalised and a danger to children after standing empty for the past five years, says a councillor.
Dave Patrick believes the former Wisbech Town FC ground in Lerowe Road “poses a massive danger and should either be flattened or boarded up securely”.
Fenland District Council says they are now aware of problems at the ground and following concerns raised by Mr Patrick visited the site yesterday.
“We’ve since been in touch with the agents managing the site and the owners,” said a council spokesman.
“They say that work is being done this week to ensure that the ground is made as secure as possible.”
Wisbech Town FC has long since moved to a new ground in Lynn Road – funded by the £1m sale five years ago of the ground to a property company.
Permission was obtained for 83 homes on the site despite residents’ fears the site would be over-developed.
Three years ago residents complained of problems at the ground “concerning unauthorised access, rat infestation and low water pressure.”
But Mr Patrick says not only has nothing been done to the site, the former stadium tea room and bar has been vandalised, entry doors ripped open, and the ground become a target for anti social behaviour.
“I am constantly getting complaints from residents locally,” he said. “You might have expected by now it would have been flattened and something done with it.
“Of course people are concerned about it- there is the constant sound of breaking glass, late night noise and there have been reports of small fires having been started.”
He said: “You can’t blame the football club but the truth is this building and ground has been left to rot and not only is it an eyesore it is potentially a health hazard.”
Mr Patrick added: “I wouldn’t be happy living across the road from this site and in my opinion it’s been like this far too long.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here