DISGUSTED campaigners who have repeatedly sought action to clear up “the worst eyesore in Harwich” say it looks the “worst it has ever been.”

The run-down site, which lies on the corner of Stour Road and Talbot Street, has passed from owner to owner over the past ten years.

Last year residents were celebrating after work began to clear the area, which was home to a derelict bungalow.

The site was given planning permission for eight one-bedroom flats in 2016.

But Ian Wooding, 67, of Stour Road, says as of this week, the eyesore looks worse than ever.

“It is dangerous and again rubbish is piling up,” he said.

“It is next door to a playground and I see children accessing the site regularly, getting into an area where there are broken drains, smashed glass bottles, all kinds of hazardous material.

“If the heavy, wooden hoarding surrounding it were to fall on someone it could kill them. Parts of it regularly fall away.

“It did get better to a point two or three years ago, the bungalow was completely demolished, there was planning permission for flats and then – nothing.

“For us, the residents who have to live around this, it is a disgrace.

“We are being treated like second class citizens and dismissed when we raise concerns. It looks worse than ever.

“I would like to see the whole lot cleared and grassed over.”

Harwich town councillors echoed Mr Wooding’s fears over safety.

Geoff Smith, who has campaigned to see the site cleared for the past five years, said the area has remained an eyesore since he was first elected as a councillor.

It is claimed the site fell into disrepair and for the past ten years or more, while passing from owner to owner, has been used as a dumping ground for rubbish, suffered broken fencing and overgrown vegetation.

Mr Smith previously worked with Tendring Council’s planning enforcement team to see action taken.

“When there is open space like this, with hoardings coming away, that encourages people to dump rubbish in there,” he said.

“I feel so sorry for the residents who live nearby who are having to put up with this.”

A Tendring Council spokesman said the authority is aware of the site and is taking steps to engage with new owners about its condition.