TOWN hall bosses are to act to clear an ‘eyesore’ and ‘unhealthy’ patch of vacant land in the midst of terrace homes overrun with rats and Japanese knotweed.

More than 25 local residents have petitioned senior councillors over the semi-derelict area which has been blighted by the fly-tipping with everything from discarded syringes and needles to disused fridges.

In a letter to Blackburn with Darwen council they brand it ‘an unsecure and hazardous wasteland’.

The area between Whalley Street and the back alley of London Road in Bastwell will now be cleared by borough environment staff with special attention to the knotweed before it structurally damages nearby properties.

The news has been welcomed by local councillors Iftakhar Hussain and Parwaiz Akhtar who have been campaigning for years to clear the site.

Maqsud Patel, spokesman for the London Road Residents Group which submitted the petition to the council’s executive board, said: “This is good news.

“But why has it not been done properly before?

“It is more than an eyesore and is positively unhealthy.

“It is a target for flytippers with everything left there including syringes and needles, food, plastics, and even disused fridges.

“The land is semi-derelict and overgrown with trees and shrubs and in the summer is a magnet for children wanting to play.

“We tried to clear it ourselves in December but could only do bits for health and safety reasons.

“The food attracts rats and vermin and we are very concerned about the knotweed and the damage it could do to our houses.

“We want to ensure the council does the work properly so there is a long-term solution.”

The executive board will be told on Thursday night: “The site has been partially cleared of rubbish in October, and again in December 2016.

“It will again be tidied up with an estimated costs for a ‘one-off’ clearing the whole site of fly-tipped rubbish and treating the knotweed that should not exceed £1,000.”

Cllr Hussain said: “This is welcome. As Bastwell councillors we have been campaigning for this for a long time.”

Cllr Akhtar said: “This is good news.”

The residents group letter said: “We hope that a swift solution can be made to ensure the safety and well being of residents especially young children from this unsecure and hazardous wasteland.”

“We look forward to an informed plan of action on this matter and would welcome an open forum meeting to discuss the long-term strategy.”