Old hospital site 'now a dumping ground' (From Harwich and Manningtree Standard)

Old hospital site 'now a dumping ground'

7:30am Tuesday 19th February 2013 in News

NEIGHBOURS of an old hospital are faced with a “gauntlet” of debris as the site has been left to decay.

The former Harwich Hospital site and Hospital Lane have been neglected, according to frustrated residents.

James Preston 64, who lives behind the hospital on Elizabeth Road, Dovercourt, said the area had become an overgrown dumping ground and is calling for a clean-up.

The hospital was closed to make way for the Fryatt Hospital, which opened on nearby land on Main Road.

Mr Preston said: “During the whole of last summer, residents were faced with a gauntlet of broken fence pieces, overgrown nettles, and overhanging briars and rose bushes throughout Hospital Lane. With spring around the corner it is only going to get worse.

“It is overgrown in vegetation and is used as a waste bin by school children and adults alike, mainly because the fence is always in such a broken and dangerous state.

“To make matters even worse the whole of this site is overrun with rats. They are all around Elizabeth Road now.

“Everyone in our road is over 60 and they use Hospital Lane to get to the town, hospital or doctor’s surgery.”

The owner was not available for comment.