Leigh Old Vienna restaurant branded an eyesore by residents

The Old Vienna, in Eastwood Road, shut down in 2016 after bosses were accused of flouting hygiene rules and the business was slapped with a zero-food safety rating.

Restaurant - Old Vienna (Image: Unknown)

Since then, plans have been given the green light for it to be demolished and turned into 13 flats.

However, despite hoardings being placed around the site, very little progress has been made.

Now, hundreds of pigeons have taken over the building and councillors have demanded work takes place as soon as possible.

Half-demolished - Old Vienna (Image: Stephen Aylen)

Stephen Aylen, Belfairs ward councillor, said: “It leaves a negative impression on my ward.

“Hundreds of pigeons have taken over the building where they’re roosting at night, and there were once ripped advert posters all over the hoarding, which has now been tidied up a bit now.

“I thank the efforts by the developers to make the pigeon-infested eyesore site looking a bit better, however, something needs to be done as it can’t keep being in this state.”

Keep out - Old Vienna site surrounded by grey hoarding (Image: Stephen Aylen)

In 2021, plans for a three-storey block of 13 flats at the Old Vienna were initially approved on the condition developers paid £224,000 towards affordable housing.

However, the developer told the council it can “no longer afford” to hand over the cash for affordable housing, which left the plans up in the air.

A year later, London-based construction firm Forma London was granted planning permission at appeal in February 2022.

An additional planning application, submitted by the company this year surrounding tree preservation orders, was given the green light in August.

Despite this, work on transforming the site into a three-storey block containing 13 flats is still yet to take place.

Dozens of neighbours have contacted Mr Aylen over the years to express their frustrations with the abandoned, half-demolished project.

He added: “My residents have been telling me for ages how much of an eyesore it is and how angry they feel with having to see and live by it day-in-day-out.

“They want answers of what’s going on.”

David Garston, Conservative councillor responsible for housing and planning, added: “I want to see something happen because it’s been derelict for such a long time now and, quite frankly, it’s an eyesore.

“People shouldn’t have live in an area where they are seeing something like that on a daily basis.

“I hope the whole building will be demolished soon.”