Demolition of danger house leaves residents celebrating - 13-12-2004

Relieved residents in Rugby are celebrating following the news that a dangerous disused site home to syringes and rats will finally be knocked down.

Families who lived near the land in Yates Avenue near the Leicester Road feared for their children’s safety after the site became a popular dumping ground for burnt out cars.

And even though the owners of the garages on the land were made to clean up the land back in August, residents still wanted the land destroyed.

Now local builders ECL have stepped in and bought the land to help the wishes of the neighbourhood come true.

ECL Managing Director Ivan Norris said: “I want to get the garages knocked down before Christmas as a gesture to the local residents.

“I saw an article in the Advertiser back in August about how unhappy they were and wanted to do something about it.

“I wouldn’t want that on my doorstep and so I don’t see why they have to.”

ECL intends to use the land to build offices, which they hope to begin in the New Year.

Gordon Cummings has lived in nearby Fosterd Road for 26 years and is delighted to finally see the land demolished.

“The whole community is so relieved,” he said.

“It should have been made safe a long time ago, especially with all the children around.

“But we can now finally put all that behind us and hope the garages are knocked down as soon as possible.”

Workers are currently starting the demolition of the site and have fenced off the area.

Mr Cunningham’s wife, Joy, believed the neighbourhood can finally celebrate after many months pushing for the garages to be destroyed.

“All the neighbourhood got a letter though from ECL explaining what they wanted to do and we are very happy for them to start straightaway.

“It’s been an eyesore for a long time now and it became a very dangerous place. I have seen cars and household stuff from mattresses to fridges dumped there.”

But now the neighbours can finally enjoy some good news.

Dawn Ashby, who lives in Yates Avenue, said: “It is good to have something positive here for a change. It’s brilliant news. I have six kids and I had to stop them playing there. But kids can be very adventurous and you can’t stop them all the time. For someone to actually come in and do something about it is what we have been waiting for for a long, long time.”

ECL are using another local company JWR to demolish the site.

Cllr Ray Kirby (Lab, Newbold) said: “It is a nice Christmas for the residents.

“Planning permission has been given for offices to be built there in the New Year.”