People living near a former Norwich pub site are being urged to sign a petition calling on the owner to clean it up.

The condition of the former Grove pub in Cadge Road, North Earlham,has rapidly deteriorated since it closed in July 2009, and it has not been cleaned or made secure since being bought by the current owner early last year.

Green Party city councillor Ruth Makoff has campaigned to get the owner to look after the site and she said today that he had made promises but taken no action.

She said: 'All we are asking is for the owner to live up to his responsibilities in keeping the site in a decent condition.

'It's in an absolutely terrible state, and it's not fair on people who live in the area, so we have decided to take round a petition to put pressure on the owner to tidy the site, remove the broken metal fencing and replace it with more sturdy boards which are common on other sites.'

In November last year residents joined some of the Green Party councillors for a litter pick in front of the pub to show how much they cared about the area, and to call on the owner to do his bit.

Currently, the car park is strewn with broken glass, metal fencing has been destroyed, leaving dangerous sharp wires near the pavement, and the former garden is littered with debris.

Green Party councillors have found out the owner of the site, but have not revealed his identity to the Evening News, because they said it is not in the public domain.

Lucy Galvin, the Green Party candidate for this year's local election, added 'The ward councillors will be presenting the petition to the owner of the Grove pub site in a week or two.

'Copies are available at the Cadge Road Community Centre for anyone who'd like to sign. I understand that planning permission is being sought to turn the area into flats, but in the meantime the site urgently needs to be secured and made safe.'

Councillor Makoff has also asked the city council to take enforcement action and officers are exploring this possibility.

Do you know who owns the former Grove pub site? Call Evening News reporter David Bale on 01603 772427 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk