Locals at war with London landlord behind enormous scaffolding looming over town for 7 years
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Angry residents of an idyllic seaside town have demanded action against a monstrous scaffolding tower that has perched on top of a building for seven years, attracting drunkards and seagulls.
The ‘squalid’ structure has dominated downtown Seaford since 2016 and stands on top of various businesses, enclosing them and hiding them from foot traffic.
And due to the town’s location on the stormy Sussex coast, the windy weather has also led locals to fear for the safety of those who walk beneath the beast.
After years of disruption, frustrated councilors have said they will take the owners of London Vision Properties, the owners of the Talland Place building in which the scaffolding stands, to the High Court to have it torn down.
A massive scaffolding structure has been placed on top of a Sussex building for seven years.
The structure has baffled locals who have demanded that something be done about it.
It towers over the small town and blocks the sun in some areas.
Ian Rose says his business has been hit by the ridiculous structure
Speaking to the Mail, Councilor Zoe Nicholson, deputy leader of Lewes Borough Council, described how efforts to have the monolith remain unfinished work had been frustrated at every turn for years.
She said: ‘The owner acted with complete disregard for the interests of businesses and shops in the vicinity of Talland Parade and used loopholes to thwart all efforts to tear down the scaffolding, but not anymore.
“Our claim against them is now before the High Court and we expect a trial date to be confirmed soon.”
However, for the locals and business owners living in the beast’s shadow, it’s too little too late.
Owner Ian Rose owns the Saxon Bar and Lounge which sits across from the eyesore.
Its owner, Ian Rose, is one of many who are frustrated by the imposing scaffolding.
The 51-year-old from Rottingdean said: ‘I know a lot of people who are severely affected by this.
“The owners have done absolutely nothing with it for so long, just left it and let the shops below suffer.
“Although they do have a roof, it’s too high, so it doesn’t protect the properties below, as wind and rain come in under the roof.”
He added: ‘I’m so sorry for the woman who lives next door.
Even if you wanted to move, you would have to declare it and you would lose money on the property, since it is an eyesore.
“They had to close the road earlier because all the scaffolding was bending and moving. It looked like it was at an angle.
He added: “I’ve also seen drunk people go up there, which is very dangerous.”
The structure has become a beacon for anti-social behaviour.
Anne Mulholland is concerned that scaffolding will continue to deposit plastic on her home.
Anne Mulholland is retired and lives behind the scaffolding.
One windy night, she was surprised when a board flew into her garden.
The 68-year-old said: “We were sitting in our living room one day and we saw an eight-foot board fall in the garden.”
“Luckily we weren’t there and it didn’t hit anything, but it could have.”
Constant noise on windy days also prevents Ms. Mulholland, who has lived on the property for five years, from enjoying her garden.
She said: “It’s very noisy, so if it’s windy, it’s very noisy in the garden.”
“Scaffolding hangs over our backyard garden and we often get lots of pieces of plastic coming out of the plastic sheeting that surrounds it.
‘Because of the wind, the plastic ends up in tatters, so we have a lot of plastic rags hanging in the garden.
‘It’s like the hanging gardens of Babylon but with plastic.’
Neighbors have also discovered that the scaffolding is the perfect home for the noisy seagulls.
Ms Mulholland said: “In the wind and the rain, bird poop gets in and constantly makes a mess in the garden.”
Charles Ward has described the scaffolding as a monstrosity
Scaffolding has prevented businesses from receiving light for years
The owner of the building has confirmed that the scaffolding will be dismantled soon
Charles Ward lives across from the scaffolding. He said: ‘It’s a bloody eyesore and it’s been up too long.
‘They just need to put some dynamite in there and blow it up.’
The 77-year-old man worries about the safety of the community.
He said: ‘It’s so dangerous. The winds you get here are amazing and there are no trees or restrictions to keep you from reaching the main street.
‘When it’s windy, the corrugated iron roof rattles and shakes and looks like it’s going to collapse.
“I’m afraid to go through because it looks like something is going to fly out and it could hit anyone.”
Ward moved to the area in 2019 and has only seen people on the scaffolding twice.
He said: ‘I’ve only seen people on it twice, but that was just to reinforce the structure, not to make any progress with it.
“To be honest, I have no idea why it’s been around for so long and who’s paying for it.”
The retired local lives across the street from the tower and is constantly forced to listen to scaffolding crashing in the wind.
He added: ‘I could see it collapse in high winds. I can hear banging from my house. Sometimes I worry that it fell because it can be very loud.
One of these days it will go away.
He added: “I think they started the work but realized it needed to be reinforced and graded for the new foundation to support the floors above, so the owner went to Spain.”
MailOnline has reached out to Vision Properties for comment on the situation.
A spokesman said the scaffolding had played a “key role” in protecting the building, but it will now collapse.
They said: ‘Vision Properties, owners of Talland Parade, Seaford, announce that it is planning to remove the scaffolding structure which has so far played a key role in protecting the parade and the businesses that occupy it.
‘Work on the site will begin shortly. Subject to prevailing weather conditions and no technical issues, most of the visible structure needs to be dismantled in time for the upcoming Coronation celebrations.
“As a result, Seaford residents and visitors will once again be able to admire and enjoy the view of the skyline from the High Street.”
An Able1 Scaffolding spokesperson told MailOnline that it would start to take down on March 6.