Frustrated residents said they've "had enough" after gangs alleged ongoing antisocial behaviour at a former care home.
The building on Newby Drive has been empty for a decade after the care home that used to occupy the site closed in around 2011. Since then, it has been sold off to a private owner but nothing has been done with the building, leaving it to become what neighbours previously described as "a nuisance" and "a pain in the backside" while Knowsley Council has had to step in to clear the site of rubbish.
Since then, fresh concerns have been raised as nearby residents call for action. For many years, residents say they have been dealing with fires, fly-tipping and youths trespassing on the area, with some kids throwing bricks at nearby homes.
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Roy Dennis has lived in the area for 66 years and he said he has had enough. He told the ECHO: "It's an eye-sore. We've had enough. All along the side, the hedges have never been cut. It's been on fire three times, the third time we had no electric here for hours.
"Knowsley Council won't give you any information. The boards that were put up have been smashed in again so obviously fly-tipping will be going on again."
Roy added that the building attracts antisocial behaviour from gangs of youths as he said one time, children were throwing bricks from the land at his windows. He added: "It used to be a kids home at one point and you never had any trouble.
"I'd like to see it knocked down. Whoever owns it doesn't care. Knowsley Council won't do anything about it or tell us who the owner is. It's always been quiet around here but that is a total eye-sore, it's an eye-sore when you turn into the road."
Another resident said it was an "accident waiting to happen". John Carine, green party activist, said he has received many complaints about the problem. He said: "It's a danger to the kids, an accident waiting to happen.
"And it's been a nuisance to residents over the years due to anti social behaviour, fly-tipping and fires."
Taking to social media he warned parents to know where their children are and to understand the risks. He wrote: "Residents are reporting kids playing in the old abandoned care home which is highly dangerous and and possibly unstable due to numerous fires over the years.
"This building was secured but they have managed to gain access and will only be a matter of time before a child is seriously injured."
The ECHO previously reported that it is believed the building, which was purchased in 2014, is subject to an overage clause that would see the previous owners receive a cut of any profit made from redeveloping the site. Neighbours feared this meant the new owners would do nothing with the building until 2024.
Addressing the concerns, a spokesperson for Knowsley Council said: "We were notified by Merseyside Police on Sunday, May 14 that they had attended the site and spoken to a group of young people, who were warned about the dangers of entering the building. Neither the building or the land is owned by Knowsley Council, but we have contacted the owners to request that they make the site secure as soon as possible in order to prevent any further incidents."
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