Walsall Council branded a 'shambles' as future of former Darlaston FC site remains unresolved four years on
Walsall Council has been branded a shambles and a disgrace as the future of an eyesore former football ground still remains unresolved four years on.
The former ground of Darlaston Town Football Club, in Waverley Road, has been bordered up since 2013 when the then club folded and Walsall Council took over the site.
But the site remains derelict despite at least three different organisations having stated an interest in taking it over.
On top of this, it is alleged the council is still cutting the grass at the site despite it being closed for around four years.
A livid councillor Doug James, who represents Darlaston, has vowed to call a public meeting after the general election to get to the bottom of the situation.
He has also accused the council of leaving the site to ruin rather than help one of the interest parties to take it over
He said: "There are three groups interested in taking over the site - a local football club, Darlaston ATC and a youth group - but Walsall Council does not seem interested.
"It is one thing if you have people who do not want to get involved but when you have three people who want to get involved then you need to support them, something which the council is not doing.
"We have got a ridiculous situation where the site is completely derelict and left to ruin but Walsall Council is still cutting the grass. It is a p**** take really and a complete waste of tax payers money.
"We have young people who are coming up to a six week holiday soon and we have got this fabulous green area that they can't use because it is being left to rot. It is an absolute shambles, a disgrace.
"I have spoken to local residents about this and basically if we do not start getting some meaningful answers from the council then I will call a public meeting after the general election. Everybody interested will be invited and we will start putting some real pressure on the council to get this sorted."
In August last year it was reported by the Express & Star that the council was going to demolish the ground's stands. A spokesman said it was still 'proceeding with the demolition' and the council would then be 'reviewing its options with regard to future uses for the site'.
The council declined to comment on whether it was still cutting the grass at the derelict site despite pictures suggesting the grass had recently been cut.
