A FORMER working men's club has been labelled an eyesore by ward councillors who are unanimous in their calls for it to be cleaned up.

York Promenade Working Men's Club closed in January 2005 and later that year was demolished after a bruising legal tussle between the club trustees and a speculative developer.

In August, a new developer, Moorside Developments, was granted planning permission to build eight townhouses on the site in St Benedict Road, off Bishopthorpe Road.

Only a month has passed, but councillors and residents are keen for work to start on the site, which has now been derelict for two years.

All the councillors from the Micklegate ward have said the site has become a target for fly-tipping and vandalism and they are worried the perimeter fencing is a possible hazard to passers-by.

Labour councillor Sandy Fraser said: "The local community was angered at the way the club was taken from the members several years ago.

"Residents on the St Benedict's estate, many of whom were patrons of the club, are now concerned that, following demolition of the building, the site has become derelict and an eyesore."

Fellow Labour councillor Julie Gunnell recently took council officers on a visit to view the site.

Coun Gunnell said: "Following pressure from the ward councillors, the council had persuaded the current owners of the site to clean it up on a number of occasions, but in its derelict state it kept being used as a rubbish tip, causing concern among local residents.

"Following the site visit with officers, as ward councillors, we are again pressing for a clean-up of the area, and an early start to the housing development, which has been granted planning permission," she said.

Coun Dave Merrett said: "While we, and the local residents, were concerned that the takeover of the club site meant a loss of a community amenity, it is now a priority to get the site cleaned up, and work started on the development.

"That is the only way we will stop this being a blot at the centre of an otherwise tidy and pleasant estate."

Senior partner Matthew Laverack, of Laverack Associates, who represents the developers, was unavailable for comment.

The partnership with the previous property developer broke down when planning consent could only be obtained for ten flats rather than 18 flats and a smaller version of the club that was originally proposed.