Over a year on since the partial collapse of a main town centre building half the road is still closed. One side of Market Street in Longton is still closed to pedestrians and motorists after first being closed in July last year.

Now residents are fed-up with the lingering 'eyesore' that looms over Longton and want action. In July last year parts of the building fell to the ground, as a safety precaution the road was closed.

Once the building was made secure, scaffolding was erected and part of the road was reopened. However residents say little work has been done to repair the building and want answers.

Resident Ann Espley said she regularly see's the building and does not regularly see work being done and raised concerns about the possible effect on emergency services.

She said: "Where the scaffolding is there are railings on the opposite shops, so any emergency vehicles coming through, cars can't pull on the pavement opposite because of the railings. The traffic gets congested up King Street, Baths Road and the Strand, it's horrendous.

"Plus it looks like an eyesore as well and it's just gone on for 12 months, it just annoys me everytime I go past."

Residents are fed up with the lingering 'eyesore' that looms over Longton (LDRS).

Jack Marshall who was shopping in Longton said: "It's a shame it's been like that for so long. I hope they reconstruct the building and not just let it go to ruin. This is one of the gateways into Longton and for the past year it has just been a mess."

It's not just shoppers but traders who are speaking out. Speaking at the end of last year Mohammed Hussain, aged 60, of Pleasant Paws Grooming, across the road from the building, said: "They need to get the work done and get rid of the druggies. It is attracting the homeless. 

"Somebody turns up once every three weeks and a couple of guys do half an hour and that is it. Business is down anyway but it does not help when people are seeing scaffolding and traffic is slowing down. The quicker they get the work done the better. It is an eyesore."

In a statement Stoke-on-Trent City Council state that they will liaise with the owner to restore the road back to normal and remove the scaffolding as soon as possible.

Councillor Chris Robinson, cabinet member for housing and planning, said: "We understand that the owner of the building on Market Street now has the correct building control approval and has appointed a planning agent. The owner has been advised that they need to obtain the relevant planning approvals to rebuild the property to its original design. We will continue to liaise with the owner going forward to ensure we can remove the scaffolding and return the road back to normal as soon as possible."

------------

READ MORE: Police search for eleven men following violent disorder in Stoke-on-Trent

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter email HERE - just click the 'SIGN UP' button.

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stoke Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our city.

Please consider following Stoke Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.