RESIDENTS living on Ewood’s borough-run travellers’ site want action to renovate their ‘dilapidated’ home while major road and construction works take place.
They will meet council officials on Monday to discuss their concerns.
MORE TOP STORIES:
They include:
- Piles of rubbish attracting large rats
- Cold shower blocks
- Lack of footpaths
- Lack of play areas
- Inadequate fencing
- Open drains.
They are also concerned about football fans attending Ewood Park urinating in public near the site on match days.
The 12-year-old site, just off Albion Road, has 20 pitches and is home to more than 50 people including children and elderly people.
A £4 million year-long remodelling of the Ewood Gyratory System started this summer and nearby Albion Mill has been demolished for the construction of a 92 apartment development for older people including specialist extra-care support for the vulnerable.
Resident Caroline Young, aged 41, said: “The site is very dilapidated and it needs upgrading.
“There are children and elderly people who live here. It is unhealthy.
“We are concerned about the building of the road so close to the site.
“There is no proper fencing and it is dangerous for the children. “There are no proper footpaths and no play area.”
“There are piles of rubbish all around. We all want something done.
Her 51-year-old cousin Mary Young said: “They are doing a lot of building work round here.
“We want them to renovate and improve the site while they are doing that.
“We have rats as big as dogs running around. The shower blocks are too cold in winter for our children to shower in.
“It’s never been right. Many of us have lived here a long time and now it’s not fit to live on.
“To make things worse on Ewood Park matchdays we often see fans urinating in full sight of our children. It’s just not right.”
Blackburn with Darwen council regeneration boss and Ewood ward councillor Maureen Bateson said: “The site manager and senior housing officials will meet residents on Monday.
“I am aware of their concerns and will be happy to visit the site myself and discuss them.”
Blackburn MP Jack Straw said: “If they make an appointment I am happy to meet the residents and discuss any issues they have.”
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 The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.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 hereComments are closed on this article