Former club used as dumping land
FIRED-UP Hemsworth residents have spoken of their disgust that a derelict piece of land has been targeted by arsonists and flytippers.
The former St Patrick's Working Mens' Club site, at the junction of Southmoor Road and Kirkby Road, has been used as a dumping ground for domestic waste for several months and was deliberately set on fire two weeks ago.
The club was demolished five years ago and there have been several attempts to renovate the site, including using it for a car washing service.
Firefighters from Hemsworth and South Elmsall were called out on Sunday, August 1, after a portable building that was used by the car washing business was burned down.
Keith Redhall, 75, of Lavender Way, said he was tired of the way it has been treated.
He said: "I live 100 yards from the land and it's dreadful.
"The fire has made the place look even worse and there is so much waste just left here.
"It lowers the look of the area.
"It's disgusting and, if it carries on, there will be rats everywhere before we know it."
Angry resident Michael Roberts, 61, of Lavender Way, wants the land put to good use.
He said: "It's a natural place for kids to hang around and it has ended up looking terrible with all the rubbish and now it's all burned down.
"There has got to be something better that can be done with it.
"It could improve our area instead of downgrading it."
The derelict site, which is privately owned, is currently the subject of a planning application to transform it into a Farmfoods store.
A Wakefield Council spokesman said: "The owner of the property had been contacted and given an undertaking to clear the land, but as this has not been done the council has started proceedings to get the site tidied up.
"The planning application has a decision target date of August 27 and the council is currently pursuing the current owners, through legal services, to tidy the land using powers under Section 215 of the town and country planning regulations."
Hemsworth MP Jon Trickett said: "It it a disgrace that is has been treated this way, and then left looking so bad.
"It's an eyesore and brings Hemsworth's reputation down."
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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