A disgrace in the 21st century

This is Prince's Street Ulverston, seen by all that come into town from the station.

These are a grand set of terraced houses (featuring the dog sculpture on the roof) ,going down another floor at the back.

For over 15 years, I understand, the property in the middle has been going downhill with disruptive behaviour from multiple tenants going on inside and a rapidly deteriorating exterior outside.

It has been a nightmare for the neighbours.

The fact that this situation has been allowed to continue is a disgrace and reflects on two serious problems that we have with local government.

One: the councillors involved have not pursued this issue with vigour. One concludes that they think that once they have raised the matter with the officials at the SLDC, their job is done.

Secondly over the past 12 years there have been a series of avoidance strategies and inaction by the SLDC officers and the Cllrs have done nothing to correct this.

It was only when there was a near disaster with a fire in the building, caused by a tenant, that things began to change. Had it not been through a stroke of luck with the fire engine being quickly available, then the fire would have taken hold with the whole block of houses.

The Fire service have now boarded up the main property.

Even after the fire nothing happened and it was left to the neighbours to raise the issue.

A meeting was eventually called with the council officials in March with the following resulting vague proposals. To download the SLDC responses to the neighbours questions click here and then click the link labelled "Response to Dr McQuillin.pdf" part way down the page. Here is the Evening Mail report of the recent situation.

Now at last the Council are going to decide what they will do at their Cabinet Meeting, this next May 27th.

They will have to be on their toes as they have an appauling record on this issue. Mr Tummie was not convincing at the earlier March meeting; his boss Mr Sykes was seen to be squirming in his seat at the incompetent performance being given by his 'team'. This whole sad saga confirms the low position held by SLDC in the bottom 15% in the country as measured by the Audit committee. It now has an opportunity to rectify the matter.

The SLDC can count on a public outcry from Ulverston if this house is not quickly sold to a new responsible builder for the ultmate use by a private family.