CAMPAIGNERS are urging Mansfield's recently re-elected mayor Tony Egginton to sort out a derelict former hospital site near the town centre.
Roy Bainton, 68, said he and others living close to the former Mansfield General Hospital have waited 17 years for it to be demolished and redeveloped.
Closed in 2003, the site was purchased soon after by developer Mumtaz Adam.
Mr Bainton said Mr Adam had repeatedly expressed his intention to build flats on the site.
But despite the developer having planning permission for more than 100 flats, none have been built.
"I would expect and request the re-elected mayor to re-double his efforts and make Mansfield history by putting this mess to rest," said Mr Bainton, chairman of West Hill Residents' Association, which represents people living in West Hill Avenue, West Hill Drive, Clifton Place and Ashfield Avenue.
"We have had petitions, leafleting, stalls on Mansfield Market and staged a mock demolition, but the situation goes on.
"It's remarkable that a large site near Mansfield town centre should be left like this.
"We've seen no activity on the site for months."
Andrea Tuckwood, 49, of West Hill Drive, urged Mansfield District Council to act. "They can take on issues with private properties," she said.
On the state of the derelict hospital, she added: "It's a luxurious apartment for vermin."
Responding to Mr Bainton, Mr Egginton said: "We have issued a number of section 215 orders to bring work up to date. Mr Adam complied with everything the council have asked from him.
"A lot of the planning legislation is due to be amended by the Department for Communities and Local Government which we hope will enable us to put more pressure on Mr Adam.
"I will continue to fight for residents to rid them of what is a great blight on the area."
Mr Adam said he was looking to make "tangible progress" on building a mixture of 30 high and low-cost flats on part of the site in West Hill Avenue in this financial year.
"I have negotiated with numerous organisations including Henry Boot Developments, whose architects proposed a new-build (flats) scheme to which I agreed. However, Mr Bainton said he would vigorously oppose it.
"Lunar Group also proposed new build. Contracts were exchanged, but Lunar Group were vigorously opposed at the planning process."
Mr Adam said a reduced application for 211 flats was approved by Mansfield District Council, but the development was scrapped due to the recession.
He added: "Last winter I made available the resources and time to get the first apartment developed.
"However, as with all other developers, the unpredictable harsh winter prevented things moving forward.
Mr Adam said he had no start date for a larger flats development at the rear of the derelict hospital site.
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