We live in a run-down ‘ghost town’ that’s been deserted for 16 years – it’s like being in a post-apocalyptic world
RESIDENTS of a run-down “ghost town” that’s been deserted for 16 years say it’s like being in a post-apocalyptic world.
Much of Gildas Avenue in Kings Norton, Birmingham, has already been demolished, while other houses remain derelict and have been boarded up.
The majority of people in the area moved out years ago including Carl Harris, the “last remaining resident” of the street, who agreed a deal with the council for the purchase of his home last year.
The “post-apocalyptic” stretch has been earmarked for redevelopment since 2007, but to this day not a single brick has been laid.
Labelled a “no-go” zone in the past due to sky-high crime rates, Gildas Avenue is the final part of a plan for 1,000 new homes on the former Primrose and Pool Farm Estate.
No more progress has been made on the development and residents here say the area is in desperate need of a facelift.
Charity Dhliwayo has lived on what remains of Gildas Avenue for the past eight years.
She moved into the property knowing that her home would eventually be demolished, but with the slow pace of construction work, she said she wasn’t going anywhere any time soon.
Charity said: “We haven’t heard anything about the development for years. My house is meant to be demolished in the next phase, but they haven’t even started the first phase yet.
“This area just looks abandoned right now – like a ghost town. The area looks different to how it was a few years ago, because of all the demolition work, but in terms of crime and stuff it’s just the same.
“If you want to leave the house at night you do worry, I worry about my boy walking back home from school in the winter when it gets dark.
“There’s a lot of dark alleys around here which aren’t safe. I’d like to see the work start, it’s long overdue.”
The proposed plan for the estate covers 117 homes at three sites – Barratts Road, Bentmead Grove, and Gildas Avenue.
A mix of bungalows and two-storey houses have been retained on the 2.87 hectare site.
Kathleen Witheridge has lived in one of these bungalows for nearly 10 years.
She said the development would be “good for the area” – but admitted she had “no idea” when it was going to happen.
Kathleen said: “We haven’t heard anything about the development for a hell of a long time. I think the work will happen eventually, but god knows when.
“I think the development will be good for the area – it needs a bit of a boost. This estate hasn’t had the best of names over the years so it will be good for it to have a fresh start.”
Opposite Kathleen’s bungalow used to stand a huge three-storey block of flats which have since been demolished.
Now, when she looks out her window, she sees a vast green wasteland which she says has attracted fly-tippers.
Kathleen said: “The worst part is all the fly-tipping and dumping people are doing in the area.
“We get a lot of that here, the plot of land opposite my house used to be a huge block of flats, now it’s just a dumping ground. It attracts rats and vermin which isn’t pleasant at all.”
Despite the upheaval of the last decade on Gildas Avenue, Kathleen says there’s still a sense of community on the deserted road.
Kathleen said: “I know a lot of the neighbours that are still here. We pass each other and say good morning.
“We all say hello to each other, even if we don’t all know each other’s names. One of my neighbours drops food off at my house every week, free of charge, which is really kind – it’s how it should be.”
Birmingham City Council said it did not have any time scales it could share with residents as of yet.
A council spokesperson said: “We are committed to the transformation of the area and working across the council to explore more opportunities while we demolish the remaining former houses and maisonette blocks.
“We will soon be engaging with the local community on their ideas for transforming the area to help shape proposals.”