Family’s fury over huge mound of rubble from demolished next door pub that blocks views from windows

A couple say their dream of a quiet life in their bungalow has turned into a nightmare after the next door property was left as an uncleared building site. 

Paul and Jude Tranter bought their home in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, two years ago before the neighbouring Jester pub was demolished.

They said they had no problems with the drinking hole being bulldozed amid plans to build eight bungalows. 

But the bricks from the demolished pub have been crushed and pushed into a huge mound right next to their bungalow for months.

Mr and Mrs Tranter say the dust from the rubble has left them with no option but to clean their windows every week, instead of once a month. And they cannot open any windows or sit out and enjoy their garden due to the dust.

Paul Tranter, 47, of Stoke on Trent, said he and his wife had no problem with the pub next door being demolished – but the site has been left as an uncleared mound of rubble for months

Now they are calling for the developer – NSJ Contractors – to remove the rubble.

Builder and landscaper Mr Tranter, 47, said: ‘We knew the pub was going to be knocked down when we bought our home and that they were going to be building bungalows there. We would rather have that than the pub.

‘The problem is the mound of rubble. We went away one weekend and when we came back we could not see anything apart from that.

‘I rang the owner of the site and said I could do with it moving from the side of the bungalow because the dust is unreal in the summer. I was just fobbed off. I have heard nothing since.

‘They have crushed all the bricks. They could sell it as crush but they are not going to sell it if they are building bungalows. They are going to use it as hardcore.

‘We are all for the bungalows. It is just how they have left it for 12 months.

The former Jester pub (left) closed its doors for good in 2019 but has been left as a mound of rubble (right) months after its demolition

‘From my son’s bedroom all you can see is the mound. He can’t have his bedroom window open. We can’t open the bathroom window.

‘We just want these bungalows built and this mound of rubble moved now.’

Mrs Tranter, aged 44, is disabled and says the mound has been causing them misery for nearly 12 months.

She said: ‘My window-cleaner bill was £10-a-month. I now have to have them done every week, so I am now paying £40 a month. Paul has to wash his van every week. There is dust everywhere.

‘Kids are getting into the site. They climb up the mound and chuck bricks in our back garden.

‘We have to power wash the back garden every other week. The dust is everywhere. I can’t have my windows open.’

Planners at Stoke-on-Trent City Council have rejected the proposal for eight bungalows.

NSJ Contractors director Jason Chapman said: ‘We are still hoping to get planning permission soon. We are having a bit of a battle with the planners who are reluctant to grant permission.

‘The plan is to re-use the crush from the old pub in the development rather than send it to landfill and get rid of it. The development will start at the bottom end. The only place to store it is where it is at the moment.

‘As soon as the council grants us planning permission then we can start. Otherwise we can get rid of it, but that is not very good for the environment.. The planners do not want eight bungalows on the site, they want it down to about five. That is not viable.

‘We are looking at it at the moment. It had outline planning permission for nine properties. So there is scope for an appeal. The planning contractors we are dealing with feel there is a strong case.’

Mr Chapman added: ‘I do feel sorry for the family in the bungalow. The issue I have is I do not want to waste construction material. We could move it but as soon as we start we would have to move it back. It could possibly go to appeal or we will look at another scope for it.’