A CALL for action to clean up a Huddersfield house which has been derelict for 20 years has been made.
The house on East Street, Lindley, is said to be such an eyesore that it is affecting property prices on the street.
Now Clr Christine Stanfield is hoping Kirklees Council will use its powers to buy the property and repair it.
She said: “This house is a real blot of the landscape.
“The council should take action, as they did recently with a similar property in Dewsbury.
“Local people have had to put up with this property for 20 years and it is time something was done about it.
“Not only is it important to improve the look of the area it would also be good to see the house returned to use as a home.” The garden of the terraced stone property is overgrown while the doors and windows are crumbling and in disrepair.
Kirklees has made repeated appeals for action to the owner, but without any success.
As the property has remained empty for many years the council can now use its powers to buy the house.
The Lindley councillor raised the issue at Wednesday’s meeting of the full council with Clr Liz Smaje, the Kirklees Cabinet member responsible for neighbourhood services, who told her she would look into the case.
Clr Stanfield added: “It is such a lovely area; it is an old street with a beautiful 18th-century church on it and this house is a real eyesore.
“There is an enormous shortage of houses in this area and this property is left idle and crumbling.
“People have frequently said things to me about this house. When I have been down there neighbours have come out and said it is an eyesore.
“This case has gone on and on and nothing has happened.
“Clr Smaje said that if I put my case in writing she would look into it. I am positive she will, but I will wait to see if she does anything about it.
“I understand that all wards have houses like this. But I do feel that if it starts getting looked into there should be action of some sort, particularly if there is a known owner.”
Three weeks ago Kirklees took action over a rundown house in Dewsbury after people living nearby had complained about it.
The council tried to trace the owner of the Savile Grove house, then went ahead with the renovations.
The owners will still have to foot the bill and if they refuse the house could be sold to cover the council’s costs.
Kirklees said it would be firm on landlords leaving properties in a state of disrepair and that they would take action, where possible, to improve other properties throughout the area.
Estate agents Bramleys have a similar mid-terraced property on East Street for £129,500. Valuers say depending on the condition of the property, they would expect a negative difference of between 18-22%.
