RESIDENTS around the site of the proposed new BP garage and M&S Simply Food store in Droitwich have voiced their concerns after work drew to a halt on the site eight weeks ago.

The former Falsam Pitts BP garage on Worcester Road, was given planning permission in July to be redeveloped into a brand new BP site with a new retail food outlet for Marks and Spencer.

However despite initial promises that the demolition and construction work would be completed by the end of the year, and that people would be able to start using it just after Christmas, the site has been left looking like what one resident describes as a 'bomb site' for the past eight weeks, with rubble everywhere.

A footpath which nearby residents were initially told would be closed for only eight weeks, is also still cut off with no end to the disruption in sight.

Resident Carl Johnston, said: “To date we have not had any communications from BP. I have emailed the CEO and other contacts at BP but had no response.

“The site looks like a bomb site, also a public footpath which crosses the land is closed and should only have been closed for eight weeks. It’s appalling that BP promised local residents they would be kept informed during the construction period, but this has not happened and BP is refusing to inform residents what is going on.”

A spokesman for BP said: “There have been some technical hitches. In terms of the footpath our maintenance people are going to look into that, because it shouldn’t be closed. Hopefully they’ll have an M&S in Droitwich in the New Year.”

Wychavon District Council would not confirm any specific reason for the delay in construction, but it has said that technically the developers have three years before the planning permission expires on the site, and as such they are at liberty to delay work for as long as they feel is necessary within that time period.