Wednesfield North Councillor Rita Potter recently announced that a long battle to erect ‘security gates’ on a disused garage site in Whiston Avenue, Ashmore Park, Wednesfield has been successful.

On the 13th May 2010 Councillor Potter submitted a petition from 235 residents of the area who demanded that the City Council clean up and fit gates on the parking area behind houses on Whiston Avenue after residents witnessed many illegal acts taking place on this car parking area including the use of drugs.

Wolverhampton Homes’ Greater Wednesfield Estate Manager Angela Buttrick has written to Councillor Potter confirming that Wolverhampton Homes is now in a position to fit security gates on the front of the garage site.

Councillor Potter said “This has been a hard won victory for local residents who have been facing nuisance in the form of drug and sexual activity taking place at night, and in the early hours of the morning in this former Council car park.

I know that they will be delighted that after many meetings, and some arguments with officials and others, the residents will get some protection from miscreants who have caused so much upset.”

Whilst no date has been given, it is hoped that the gates will be installed sooner rather than later.

Six months after WV11.co.uk first raised the issue, the fate of a set of derelict garages in Ashmore Park continues to drag on after the local Tenants and Residents Association launched a petition against demolition.

On the 1st June, Wolverhampton Homes (who owns the site) was granted possession of the garages by a judge at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court who ruled that the remaining occupant who refused to leave had 14 days (until 15th June) to vacate the premises.

According to a recent Wolverhampton Homes press release, constructive dialogue with Ashmore Park Tenants and Residents Association about the garages is ongoing.

Mark Henderson, Director of Housing, said: “We are grateful for the Ashmore Park Tenants and Residents Association’s assistance and hope to be able to confirm the outcome of the further consultation shortly.”

Meanwhile, the garages slip further and further into disrepair, with visitors to the Wednesfield Aces Speedway track left facing the sight of every unit having been smashed open and filled with rubbish.

What do you think should happen to the garages?

Wolverhampton Homes has been granted possession of garages in Wednesfield which have been a magnet for antisocial behaviour.

The organisation, which manages Wolverhampton City Council’s homes, shops and garages recently took legal action against a former tenant who is refusing to vacate the garages at Griffiths Drive, behind Ashmore Park.

As previously reported, the row of near-derelict garages has been an eyesore for people living and working nearby for three years and are near to the Wednesfield Aces cycle speedway track which attracts people from all over the country.

Wolverhampton Homes has helped all the previous tenants find new garages to let and served notice that the garages were to be demolished. In April they wrote to the remaining occupant advising that they were requesting a court order to take possession of the garages. Despite repeated contact and offers to let similar garages just minutes away, the former tenant had not vacated.

A judge at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court ruled yesterday (Tuesday) that Wolverhampton Homes must take possession of the garages and the remaining occupant now has 14 days (until 15 June) to vacate the garages. Once the garages have been vacated, the process of demolition will begin.

Wolverhampton Homes is in consultation with the local community and businesses about the future use of the site, but one suggestion is to establish free parking spaces for residents and shoppers.

Mark Henderson, Director of Housing at Wolverhampton Homes, said: “We are pleased that the court came down in our favour and that we can now improve the area for the benefit of all tenants, leaseholders and residents in the area.”

“We share their frustration at how long the process has taken but now we look forward to the area being used more effectively for the community.”

Related stories:

Local eyesore facing demolition? (8th Feb 2010)
Derelict garages take a step closer to demolition (2nd March 2010)
Legal action over derelict garages in Ashmore Park (22nd April 2010)

Once the tenant has been evicted the garages will be demolished and it is hoped that the site can be used to create additional free parking for local residents and shoppers.

Mark Henderson, Director of House for Wolverhampton Homes told us:

“Wolverhampton Homes is taking legal action against a former tenant who is refusing to vacate the garages at Griffiths Drive, behind Ashmore Park, in Wolverhampton.

The row of near-derelict garages has been an eyesore for people living and working nearby for three years. During that time Wolverhampton Homes has helped all the previous tenants find new garages to let and served notice that the garages are to be demolished.

We have written to the remaining illegal occupant advising that we are requesting a court order to take possession of the garages. Despite repeated contact and offers to let similar garages just minutes away, the former tenant has not responded.

If the request for a court order is successful, the illegal occupant will be evicted, and the garages will be demolished. It is dependent on the court order when the demolition could take place.

Wolverhampton Homes will consult with local people and businesses about the future use of the site, but one suggestion is to establish free parking spaces for residents and shoppers.”

WV11 recently reported on the fate of a set of derelict garages which border Ashmore Park and Wednesfield Aces Cycle Speedway Club after reporting the problem on Fix My Street.

After being contacted by Wv11, Wolverhampton Homes Communications Manager, Kate Hughes told us: “The Garages are set to be demolished soon and we are currently negotiating with the 2 remaining tenants, but until alternative locations are found we can’t demolish them”.

Since our original article, the story has been picked up by local paper the Express & Star and today we were contacted by Wolverhampton Homes who told us that vacation notices have been served to the two remaining tenants. These orders are due to expire on the 25th March and once this has happened a demolition order will follow.

We have asked Wolverhampton Homes for more information on what will happen to the land the garages currently stand on as they form part of the perimeter fence of the park and will report on any news we receive.

Several long-term unused garages bordering Ashmore Park (adjacent to Wednesfield Aces Cycle Speedway) have been broken into, leading to damage, fly tipping, and graffiti.

The garages, which have been in a poor state of repair for a number of years have been boarded up to little affect as they are regularly broken into and used to dump rubbish and industrial waste. Drug paraphernalia can also be found on floors and fires have been lit inside.

After being contacted by Wv11.co.uk, Wolverhampton Homes Communications Manager, Kate Hughes told us: “The Garages are set to be demolished soon and we are currently negotiating with the 2 remaining tenants, but until alternative locations are found we can’t demolish them”.

She went on to say: “However, our maintenance team are going out to make the site more secure soon and I will post a picture to Fix My Street after this has happened”.

As you can see from our photos above, the garages are hardly a welcoming sight to those visiting the park and cycle speedway track – we hope the issues is resolved ASAP