PUPILS from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School have again campaigned for an ‘eyesore’ near the school to be converted into something for the community.

The school council originally complained last year about the land off Wheelock Street, which was initially meant for an extension to the Tesco superstore in 2009.

Those plans were scrapped in 2013 and the land was put on the market by Tesco two years later – but it is yet to be developed.

Janet McKinlay, headteacher at the primary school, said: “Last year, year 5 pupils wrote to Tesco in Middlewich to complain about the unsightly boards/fence panels on St Ann’s Road and to enquire about the possibility of Tesco using the land behind the panels for a community-based project.

“However, the store was hoping to sell the land and a planning application was submitted.

“We are now a year on and nothing has changed.

“The school council would simply like the boarding to be replaced with new fence panels to enhance the neighbourhood as it is an eyesore.”

Developers Henderson Homes and McCarthy and Stone are currently waiting for a decision from Cheshire East Council on a planning application to build new homes and retirement apartments.

Last year, a group of pupils from St Mary’s sent a letter to Tesco asking them to repurpose the land into something that could be used by the community.

The letter said: “Our only motive is to provide the people of Middlewich with a beautiful piece of community land that inspires, enhances and engages the community with the help of your good selves.

“We are confident that local school and community groups would be willing to not only construct and develop the area, but also help fundraise to help the project become a reality.”

Tesco has confirmed that the land now has a buyer, subject to planning permission being granted for the site’s redevelopment.

A Tesco spokesman said: “We have now sold the site subject to the buyer securing planning permission, but we will be sending a team out to clean up this land in Middlewich as soon as possible.”

CEC expects to make a decision on the planning application on March 6.