A COUNCILLOR has vowed to rid a Bradford estate of an eyesore pub that is a fly-tipping hotspot.

The grounds of the burnt-out former Tempest pub, on Kesteven Road, Holme Wood, are strewn with rubbish, including mattresses, timber, kitchen items, bin bags, and old fences.

The pub has been hit by fires since it closed down seven years ago, and has been a hotspot for people dumping rubbish for a while.

Now, Councillor Alan Wainwright has promised to sort the problem out.

“It is an absolute disgrace, an absolute mess,” said Cllr Wainwright. “It is the bane of my life.

“I am not going to let this drop now. I am going to be pushing the enforcement angle through the Council.

“I am not prepared to listen to excuses anymore.”

Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s executive member for the Environment, said: “We are in constant and on-going communication with the land owner in order for him to address the waste issues at the former pub.

“We have had a number of complaints over the years about the state of the land and have served numerous notices on the owner to clear it up and also fined him.

“Following the fire, he not only cleared up the land but fenced it off. Unfortunately there is an area between the fencing and a small perimeter wall where people continue to dump rubbish and it is an eyesore.

“I would appeal to people not to dump rubbish there. However we will once again contact the owner about residents concerns and we can prosecute the owner if he doesn’t clear up.”

Cllr Wainwright said: “The owner is doing nothing about it. Fining him makes no difference.

“I would like to see the area flattened, full-stop. I know it is a problem all over the district, but this could be solved by demolition.

“It has been seven years since the place was vacated. It is too long.

“For those residents living there it is absolutely appalling to have to look at that every day.

“And I have great sympathy for the school, Ryecroft Primary. They are there to try and teach pupils about not dropping litter and keeping things clean and tidy. Then they get to see this.

“The owner has no respect for Holme Wood, and is teaching the kids the same thing. It is just absolutely wrong. And property values are affected.”