A CALL has been made for action to clean up untidy and derelict sites across Harwich and Dovercourt.

Mayor Dave McLeod warned action is needed if the town wants to capitalise on tourism this year.

He said: “We have been left with untidy sites for longer than necessary.

“In 2014, we are looking at the cruise ships and relying on them. So it is vital these untidy sites are identified and we ask the local authority to take enforcement action.

“Places have been given permission for demolition and didn’t start – they are lagging behind.

“I am already getting angry about how things are being done, leaving our town in a mess. “ Mr McLeod also singled out posts once used for street signs as making the town look unkempt.

He said: “There are posts which used to have parking restriction signs on them, sticking out of the ground lookingamess.

“We need to work together and get our town looking good.

“We have got to start looking at sites including Delfords and Bernard Uniforms.

“As far as development, I think it is anything goes. It is never say never.”

There had been suggestions the Delfords site, in Dovercourt, had attracted a big name supermarket, but a bid to buy land for a mini-roundabout delayed plans.

There are plans to build 34 homes on the former Bernard Uniforms site, in Main Road, Harwich, and permission for demolition has been granted.