A DERELICT former supermarket in Gorse Hill has been branded an eyesore and unsafe by locals.

They now want it brought back into use after it has stood empty for three years.

They say the former Somerfields store, in Cricklade Road, has been neglected since Morrisons bought and shut the premises in 2009 to undertake an extended review of its suitability.

The supermarket chain originally said the process would take “several months”, but it is still boarded up, and critics claim it brings the area down, poses a fire-risk and damages trade.

Maurice Small, 69, of Gorse Hill, a former member of Gorse Hill Neighbourhood Watch, said: “Everybody I spoke to said they want to do something with it. It’s a big building.

“If they pulled it down, they could put flats at the top and garages at the back, or they could put flats at the top and shops at the bottom. It wants something up there to keep that area going.

“It brings the area down. It’s an eyesore, it’s a waste of space. It’s derelict isn’t it and when you get derelict properties you get problems.”

Gerry Przybyszewski, 73, who lives in Poulton Street, next to the unit, said: “It’s rotten now. It’s the roof falling in. But the trouble is it hasn’t been looked after. You have bad boys go in there just ripping off the wiring. It’s been too long neglected. If the council could go in there and have a look around they wouldn’t believe what had happened. I hope not, but one day, there might even be a fire and there will be danger to the other shops.”

Pete Doré, the owner of Jensons menswear shop, in Cricklade Road, said the empty building damaged trade, particularly for traders directly around it, adding that he would like a car park or a covered market there. He said: “I would like to see something done sooner than later.”

Coun John Ballman (Lab, Gorse Hill and Pinehurst) said: “It has been closed for about four years. It’s time something was done with it because it’s starting to look an eyesore.”

Gorse Hill PCSO, Tom Fryszka, said there was serious flooding in the building about a year ago caused by a thief while stripping copper wiring. However the building was still structurally sound and now fully secure.

Morrisons bought the supermarket from the Co-op, which purchased the Somerfields chain in 2009 and already had a store in Cricklade Road. Morrisons later announced that it worked on a larger scale and in a different format to that which Swindon could accommodate.

A Morrisons spokesperson said: “We know that local residents want to see the building back in use and are working hard to make this happen.

“We are currently speaking with local community groups and other businesses interested in the site.”