The state of a former bingo and snooker hall makes a High Wycombe street look like a “third world country”, a shocked councillor has said. 

Matt Knight, who represents the Micklefield ward on Wycombe District Council, said the old Needhams Bowl on Desborough Avenue is an “eyesore”. 

The site is currently boarded up and the building is mostly demolished, with housing provider Paradigm Housing owning the land. 

Paradigm has planning permission to build 74 homes, but no progress has yet been made on the development. 

Cllr Knight said he was surprised to see the state of the site on a visit to the west of the town.

He said: “I was actually quite shocked when I walked down Leigh Street to see a scene that looked like it was a third world country. 

“If it was my ward, I would be quite ashamed of it. I don’t know if the local ward members have been lobbying hard to have it changed but it is an absolute disgrace.

"To think that a social housing provider, which should be providing housing which were desperately short of is sitting on a site that looks absolutely horrendous, it frustrated me.”

A spokesman for Paradigm Housing said the housing provider hopes to "move forward" with plans for the site this year. 

They said: "As a not-for-profit housing association, our main objective is to provide homes for people who need them.

"We have been working for some time to get the best possible solution for this location, including the possibility of a comprehensive regeneration scheme involving adjacent sites.  

"Planning constraints mean we have been unable to demolish the existing building on the site but we are continuing to engage with the local authority planning team to find a solution.

"In the meantime, we have put significant security measures in place.

"We remain committed to the area and it’s our goal to move forward with a solution this year."