Yesterday I received a complaint about a couple of ongoing environmental issues affecting residents in and around First Street in Blackhall Colliery - issues that should have been dealt with long before now.
By way of background the complaint received yesterday related to two separate properties in Middle Street and First Street, both of which I've reported to the council several times recently. Full details can be found in an update I posted earlier this year: Following up residents' reports
From the regular feedback I get at ward surgeries, PACT meetings and in general conversations in the street residents are of the opinion that the council isn't doing enough to tackle issues like these in communities like Blackhall and Hesleden - despite assurances earlier this year by the new administration in county hall that our public services would improve with immediate effect by identifying 'waste' and 'inefficiencies' in the council and then transferring those savings to front-line services.
In response to the comments I received from yesterday I've urged the council to be more proactive and responsive to public concerns like the ones in and around First Street:
I’ve received additional complaints today about long-term blight problems associated with two individual properties at First Street and Middle Street in Blackhall Colliery.
- The property at 23 First Street was damaged with paint some time ago, and despite my reporting it on at least two occasions there has been no improvement. Understandably residents are frustrated at the endless delays
- The second property is the end house in Middle Street on the junction with First Street. This property has been left open to access for some time and fly-tipping has become a frequent occurrence. In addition, I’ve reported damage to the doors and windows on several occasions. If and when they are repaired they fall back into disrepair almost immediately
Please record this query for the attention of the relevant sections at DCC (ie, SLS and neighbourhood wardens). Please also forward this query direct to the council’s selective licensing team with a request they consider more robust measures against the owners of both properties.
Regarding the paint-damaged property in First Street, please ask if the
council would be able to remove the paint and bring the house back to a decent
standard, with re-charge on the owner or the property if necessary.
Hopefully the council will step up its procedures and deliver on its promises to tackle blight in our communities. Our residents deserve better than this.
I'll update on developments as soon as I have more information on progress with this query.
