'Garage is a fire hazard'

PEOPLE living near a former garage are worried it is a potential fire hazard. French's Garage in College Road, Seaford, has lain derelict since it closed more than two years ago.

During that time the building, abandoned vehicles and equipment have been vandalised.

Robert Brown, who lives nearby in Ringmer Road, said: 'The garage is full of old motor cars, repair equipment and oil. It is a potential tinderbox.'

He was concerned for the safety of flats and an electricity sub station next door. He said 'It has gone to rack and ruin and is very dangerous.

'It is being used as a play area by children as young as five or six. There is broken glass and it is in a state of total decay. Kids are having a field day.'

On Monday evening vandals struck again, kicking in a door and shattering glass. Mr Brown said: 'It seems to be getting worse day by day. All it will take is for a kid to go in there with a box of matches and the whole place will go up.'

He had called on Lewes District Council to take enforcement action to make the building safe.

A council spokeswoman said: 'We are currently awaiting a response as to when the premises are to be pulled down for new flats to be built. That answer will inform our decision about whether we should take enforcement action.'

However, she added: 'Enforcement action would take several months to complete, so it would not be viable if the premises are to be pulled down in the near future.'