RESIDENTS on a street in Prudhoe have once again spoken out about overgrown wasteland which they say has been abandoned by a developer.

The site, north of Front Street and south of Broomhouse Lane, is owned by the Duke of Northumberland’s property arm, Northumberland Estates.

Residents on neighbouring Neale Street, whose gardens back directly on to the land, raised concerns last August when they said dispersing seeds were blanketing their gardens and the site was becoming an attraction for rats.

Northumberland Estates said at the time that cutting back of vegetation was generally restricted until September, after the bird nesting season had completed. But neighbours have raised the issue again after stating nothing has been done to the overgrown vegetation since their complaints were raised last summer.

Eric Gilholme, of Neale Street, said: “Nothing has been done about it. “They said they couldn’t do anything at the time because of the birds nesting, but the birds are starting to tweet about and that time of year will be coming up again. It gets worse during the summer. “

Allotment holders were moved off the land around around nine years ago to allow for development to take place. An outline planning application for a retail development behind Front Street was given outline planning permission by Northumberland County Council in November 2016, but a full planning application has not been submitted yet and work has not started.

Last year the residents got the backing of the Hexham’s MP Guy Opperman, who also said he wrote to Northumberland Estates to raise the issue.

Colin Barnes, director of Northumberland Estates, said: “We have arranged to have it inspected and will deal with the matter.”