THE owner of a garage branded an eyesore and a “blot” on Upton says he has no interest what anyone else thinks and will paint the property “when he is good and ready”.
Concerned councillors are calling for official enforcement action over the state of the 1930s Art Deco-style Regal Garage in Hanley Road.
They are worried that its run-down appearance is detracting from the rest of the town and want its owner John Panes to take action to smarten it up.
Upton Town Council has made several informal app-roaches to Mr Panes but says it has had no success.
And when the Worcester News contacted Mr Panes about the concerns he said: “We are not in the slightest bit interested in them (the town council) or what anybody else thinks.”
Now Coun Mike Ostick plans to raise the matter with conservation officers at Malvern Hills District Coun-cil in a bid to get something done. He said there had been great progress in Upton since an independent report criticised the appearance of several buildings in Upton last year.
“But there remains a singular eyesore,” he added. “It is a blot on the main entrance to the town. “I understand that in the past the town council has informally approached the owners and has offered support to get the place cleaned up. But clearly previous informal and co-operative app-roaches have failed.”
Mr Panes also told the News: “When we are ready to paint it and we have the time then we will do it.”
But Coun Ostick said it has been too long and that is not good enough.
“The garage is regarded as a building of interest because of the Art Deco style,” he said. “If it was well looked after instead of run-down then it would smarten up the whole approach to the town.”
Mayor Peter Webb said: “I think we all agree with the concerns about the Regal Garage. I think this council has even offered to buy the paint for it in the past.”
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