Former corner shop vandalised and damaged as it waits for new lease of life
AN old store on Mt Druitt Road has been left to rot for years with neighbours increasingly annoyed with the property’s state saying they’ve had enough of the eyesore.
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NEIGHBOURS are sick of the dilapidated state of the old store in Mt Druitt Rd and complain it has become an eyesores.
Once a thriving business — a fresh produce shop, deli store and milk bar over the years — it is now in a dreary state of disrepair covered in graffiti and surrounded by high grass.
A Blacktown Council spokesman has confirmed officers will inspect the state of the property in coming weeks.
Craig Arkley, 47 and his mother Clare, 77, are sick of living next to the rundown business. They have lived across from it in Berry St for years and walk or drive past it to get home.
Mr Arkley grew up with a clear view of the local general shop through the open field on the corner.
Only the Coca Cola sign at the front hints at what was once a thriving business.
Mr Akley said the business had changed hands a few times over the years but he still had childhood memories there.
“In the old days you’d get your fresh devon, corned beef and bread ... everything you needed,” he said. “Even lollies that were a cent each.”
Mr Arkley said in the shop’s previous life it was popular for its proximity to the Mt Druitt “fleabag” cinema across the street.
“In the old days you’d have an intermission or a few cartoons beforehand,” he said.
“People would come across to this shop to get food during intermission.”
Mrs Arkley said it was time something was done to make the place more pleasant for locals.
“To have an eyesore like this here is disappointing,” she said. “I don’t know they can get away with it actually.
“We get a bad name as it is for Mt Druitt but to have something like this here — I don’t think it helps.”
Mrs Arkley said neighbours had been complaining about rats coming from the overgrown grass at the back.
“I’d just like this cleaned up!” she said.
The council spokesman said in a statement it had not recently received any formal complaints about the building or any development plans from the owner of the site..
“Council officers will conduct an inspection and if necessary, the owner will be issued with an order to clean up the property,” the statement said.
“This is also what would have happened had a resident or ratepayer reported the property direct to council.
“There is no correspondence between Council and the owner about future use of the property.”
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