Access blocked at house dubbed the ‘unluckiest’ one in village
I’m not a building expert, but it may well need to come down due to the state of it
Coun Ozzy O’Shea
A house which has been battered into disrepair in a Leicestershire village has had its perimeter secured after being highlighted as a risk to the public.
The council is now considering extra safety measures for the site in Bagworth, which has been repeatedly targeted by vandals.
Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council said the house in Barlestone Road has been secured, blocking access to trespassers.
The former home, named Tara House, was dubbed the “unluckiest house in the village” recently by locals who describe the building as an “eyesore”.
Attempts to fence off access to the property have proved useless in the past as paint and graffiti has been daubed all over the outside, while the windows, doors and roof tiles have been smashed.
A spokesman for the council said it had been in talks with the property’s owner.
They said: “Following discussion with the owner the borough council has taken action to secure the perimeter of this property in order to prevent unauthorised access due to concerns regarding health and safety.
“The council is now considering whether there are additional measures that may be pursued.”
Most of the damage appears to have been caused in the last 12 months.
While more secure gates had been installed by April last year and graffiti had started to appear, the home itself still largely remains intact.
Ozzy O’Shea, borough councillor for Bagworth, previously said that a number of attempts have been made to block off the house to keep the vandals out, but they kept going back to cause more damage.
He said: “The property has been empty for some time and has been repeatedly vandalised.
“A few months back, I arranged to have it secured with the help of the council, so kids can’t play on it. There was fencing put around it due to the damage but as far as I’m aware, the family who own it have moved on.
“I know it’s very dangerous. Residents have been complaining and the last thing we want is anyone going on site and getting injured.
“I’m not a building expert, but it may well need to come down due to the state of it.
“In the past, I’ve had racist graffiti removed from the property as I won’t stand for anything like that.
“I was a policeman for 43 years and I won’t tolerate that kind of behaviour.”