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Leeds battle to end 10 year eyesore site
Campaigners in west Leeds are renewing clean-up calls for a former petrol station site which was branded an “eyesore” and remains derelict a DECADE after the business closed.
The defunct Q8 garage site in Broad Lane, Bramley, has been a constant source of nuisance to locals since 2002, when increased competition closed the business.
Residents have repeatedly called on joint owners Pace Petroleum and Leeds City Council to sell the land or at least clean it up.
The oil firm owns part of the site and leases the rest from the council on a long 85-year lease.
Homeowners have previously claimed to have found used needles and have compiled a dossier of unsavoury activity on the site, including flytipping and evidence of indecent behaviour.
Campaigner Norah Gibson, who took the matter to the Local Government Ombudsman, said she and locals were “fed up” and are now starting a petition.
“This wretched business has been going on for so long,” she told the YEP. She said she may now go back to the Ombudsman for help.
A spokeswoman for Leeds City Council said: “We are aware of this piece of land, and the issues raised recently by local residents.
“The land is controlled by a private owner. The council is working with this organisation to make sure that the site is adequately maintained and secured, and will support them in seeking alternative uses for the site.
“However, finding a buyer and an alternative use is not easy in the current economic climate, particularly given possible contamination due to the site’s previous use as a petrol station.”
Mrs Gibson was promised in a series of letters from as far back as 2004 that Leeds City Council was “committed” to selling the site and that “we do not expect that there will be any further delays in securing a purchaser”.
After enquiries from the YEP this week, Mrs Gibson received a letter from the council stating it was “again pressing Pace Petroleum to undertake a landscape scheme and provide new, more attractive security fencing”.
The company was unavailable for comment.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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Comments
There are 2 comments to this article
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Derc
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 05:31 PMSurely the site should be rendered 'safe' by the joint owners, as a routine 'Duty of care' matter. The cost being the responsibility of the party that left it in a contaminated and unsafe state. Come on LCC put your business head on. A privately run property management team wouldn't stand for this carry on, in fact you wouldn't allow it. If neccesary, 'make safe and secure' and charge accordingley, as an alternative.
mumof4nanof2
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 11:30 AMand about time too. this has been an eyesore for many years but what i would like to see on the site is the return of the traditional bramley market which used to be on the maclaren field until developers built on the land. this along with car boots etc would make great use of the land.
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