THE proposed site for a controversially scrapped health centre in west Reading has become a hazardous eyesore and rubbish dump.

The land is owned by NHS England and was earmarked after the sale of the Battle Hospital site for a new medical centre, until the project was scrapped in 2011 by the former Berkshire NHS Primary Care Trust.

Battle councillor Sarah Hacker complains the doors to the site near Tesco in Oxford Road are regularly left open and some fence boards have been ripped out by people using it as a shortcut.

She added: "It's a hazard, especially to local children - anyone can access it. We cannot have it left like this indefinitely, it is an eyesore and it is dangerous and the residents expect something to be done about it, so it must be secured.

"We have been concerned about this since the clinic was scrapped, but a few residents have raised it with us in the last week or so."

The site is popular with fly-tippers and is littered with a dumped fire extinguisher, broken vaccuum cleaner, boxes, black bags, cushions and mattresses, along with discared building materials including pipes and metal fencing.

A spokeswoman for NHS Property Services, founded in April's health service reshuffle to manage buildings, facilities and estates, pledged that "it is working to secure the best future use for this site".

She said: "We will be taking immediate steps to secure the boundary of the land in question and will work with the local council and Environment Agency to address the issue of fly-tipping on the land to ensure it is kept safe and clean."