FIERCE criticism by residents over the state of the vacated Coors sports ground in Anstey Road has resulted in a site meeting with Molson Coors representatives to discuss how to improve the situation.

Following the meeting, Eggar’s Residents’ Management Group chairman David Rae reported that it had been agreed that the fence panels along the boundary with Eggar’s Square would be replaced, where necessary, and that while the temporary metal fencing would be retained, other boundary fencing bordering Anstey Road and Anstey Mill Close would also be subject to repair, to improve security on the site and for neighbouring properties.

But the damage to garage roofs at Eggar’s Square, inflicted by errant footballs, was identified as Alton Town Football Club’s responsibility. While it was emphasised to Molson Coors that a number of approaches to the football club had resulted in no action, the brewery giant was asked to put pressure on Alton Town Council, as the football club’s current landlords, to get its tenants to fulfil their responsibilities in repairing the damage.

On the question of hedge trimming, it was that overhanging foliage should be trimmed, while mindful of the law preventing any work being carried out in the presence of nesting birds.

It was unclear whether the grass would be cut, and there was some concern that hedgehogs and slow-worms had been found on the site.

While he was not at the site meeting, Anstey Residents’ Group chairman Tony Souter said the impression was that while Molson Coors had accepted responsibility for the fencing and the overhanging vegetation around the perimeter of its Anstey Road sports ground, it had been less helpful on the question of keeping the site neat and tidy and the grass cut.

Mr Souter said that the bottom line was that the brewing giant was hoping to off-load the ground to the new owners “within the next six to eight weeks,” when they would take over and develop the site.