A DELAY in demolishing a major Darwen ‘eyesore’ has been branded ‘disappointing and frustrating’.

Together Housing Association, which owns Twin Valley Homes, has been due to develop the former site of Elizabeth House in Sudellside Street since June, but work has now been pushed back to November.

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A 46-home development including older people’s bungalows and three-bedroom family homes is due to replace the current building.

Cllr Roy Davies, who represents Sudell on the borough and town council, said he was promised by Twin Valley that the demolition would start this week.

He said: “I got a definite yes from Twin Valley that it was going to begin at the end of September so I am very disappointed that this has been pushed back again.

“I feel sorry for the people in the area that have had to put up with this for 19 months, from when they originally said that this plan was in the pipeline.

“We are also meant to be receiving £76,000 for the Sudell ward in section 106 money, so it is frustrating that that subsequently is going nowhere as well.

“Kids are always going into the eyesore building and vandalising it.

“I find it very frustrating how long it has taken, it’s horrible to look at.”

Money from Section 106 agreements is set aside for community projects and is due to be made available once the housing project is underway.

The demolition should last four to six weeks.

Cllr Jane Oates, another Sudell representative for the borough council, said: “Twin Valley has made it clear that this will go ahead but we have been pushing them for months to get things started because residents are sat there wondering what is happening with it.

“It is an eyesore and I would like to see something done very quickly because it attracts a lot of vandalism.”

Hilary Brady, Together Housing Group’s head of development said: “The contract is in place and the contractor is mobilising the site from next week.

“Due to the extent of mobilisation works to set up the site it will be a slow start.

“I would expect machinery and actual demolition to start beginning of November.”