FLY-TIPPED rubbish and boarded-up windows have turned an area in Bicester town centre to become an eyesore for residents.

Deans Court - a secluded space in the town accessed via an alleyway off Sheep Street – used to be home to strip club-turned-wine-bar G’s.

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HMRC wound up the site in December 2016 as it had traded for two years unprofitably with the last few months’ takings falling below £2,000 a week – not enough to cover wages.

Since then, the site has remained empty, and the grounds have been left to deteriorate with rubbish being dumped in the area.

Bicester Advertiser: Deans Court, Bicester. Pic by Jamie Jessett

Bicester litter picker Jamie Jessett says it ‘looks awful for our town’ and wants Cherwell District Council to clean it up.

He said: “I think it’s unacceptable the way it has been left and we should be encouraging people to look after our town. This doesn’t set a great example to teenagers.

“As a community we need to be doing more to ensure we are doing everything to keep the town looking presentable.”

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Jamie said he put a cordon up in a bid to stop people from using the area.

He added: “It’s unsafe for the public to be walking past especially kids who may run off from their parents that way. I reported it to the council, but they said it’s not their responsibility.”

The land is privately owned and so the council will not tidy the area.

A Cherwell District Council spokesperson said: “As this is private land the council does not clear the waste. However, we are conducting enquiries into the waste and into who owns the land.”

Bicester Advertiser: Deans Court, Bicester. Pic by Jamie Jessett

But Jamie feels authorities need to be harsher on landowners.

He said: “We need councils to do more to push private owners to take care of their properties etc and give out bigger fines which will show people that fly-tipping will not be tolerated.

“Otherwise we will not see progress and situations like G’s will keep happening and look how depressing that looks for our town.”

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G’s had a long history with police over concerns about fights and disorder, with Thames Valley Police calling for the council to revoke its licence in September 2012.

In June 2018, a planning application was submitted to turn the building into flats, though this was later withdrawn.

Bicester Advertiser: Deans Court, Bicester. Pic by Jamie Jessett

As part of the application a planning statement said the only profitable side of the business was when it became a strip club once a week, but this was not considered viable for more days each week.

In January 2020, a fire broke out at the site.

Bicester Advertiser: Deans Court, Bicester. Pic by Jamie Jessett

Bicester Advertiser: Deans Court, Bicester. Pic by Jamie Jessett

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