CONTROVERSY surrounding the former Marlbrook tip continues following revelations the site could be blighted if planning bosses fail to rule on an application which has been in the pipeline for 12 months -- it has been claimed.

Liberty Construction boss Eddy Mcintosh, who owns the Alvechurch Highway site, submitted an application to Bromsgrove District Council last December, but planning bosses have still not made a decision.

Mr Mcintosh, who hopes to turn the site into a golf course, submitted a plan for a new drain culvert, perimeter bunding and balancing ponds.

At the May 2001 planning committee meeting, councillors deferred the application pending a site visit, but the plan has not been discussed since.

At Monday's Lickey and Blackwell Parish Council meeting, chairman Ron Brown said: "The tip could be blighted and marked as a contaminated site and this is very serious."