HEXHAM Town Council have called on urgent action to fix a former bus station, after branding it a 'bomb site'. 

Council members favoured passing a motion at the most recent council meeting, calling on Northumberland County Council to serve a Section 215 notice on Dysart, the owner of Hexham’s Old Bus Station.

This notice aims to ask Dysart to improve their land as the council fears that it is 'impinging' on the amenities of the local area.

Councillor Suzanne Fairless-Aitken said “I put forward the motion as so much money and effort has been taken to improve the Heritage Zone, the high street is coming alive again.

"However, there is one glaring omission: the old bus station has been sitting in a state of disrepair for the last seven years. At the moment, it is covered in glass, beer cans, tree shoots, and ripped posters. It’s an embarrassment to the town. The voluntary Wobble's cleaning group even found old clothing there.”

Seconding the motion Mayor Derek Kennedy said: “I have been campaigning for years to get the owners to do something with the bomb site they have left at the old bus station.

"We have made so many improvements to Priestpopple, with the building and pavements looking better.

"It makes the old bus station look stark in comparison. Well, it’s now time something is done; the town demands action.”

Councillor Suzanne Fairless-Aitken said “The support of the Town Council means we have the full weight of local pressure on County Council Planning to shake things up. County Council have raised a case and we need momentum on Dysart to either sell or at least make it look presentable.

A spokesperson for NCC said: “We are continuing to seek a long-term future for the site, and bring forward a high quality redevelopment scheme. We are investigating all options to help this happen as quickly as possible”

We have approached Dysart for a comment but did not get a response.