RESIDENTS are facing their 10th summer next to a decaying, deathtrap hotel with no resolution in sight.

The Cliff End Hotel on Boscombe’s Manor Road is owned by the Meyrick Estate but its future is mired in legal wrangling.

The building closed in 2002 and councillors and neighbours are despairing at the lack of progress.

Brian Newman, who represents the 131 flats overlooking Keverstone Court, said: “We have had this monstrosity there for years now.

“One of our residents on that side sees all kinds of layabouts in there.”

Cllr Anne Filer, of the East Cliff and Springbourne ward, said: “I feel Meyrick have really got to take responsibility. It’s a ghastly blight.”

David Dewell, who represents the 80 flats of Green Park flats, said: “We have got no satisfaction from anyone.

“It’s attracting vagrants and undesirables to an area with high quality accommodation and people feel their properties are being devalued.”

The 125-year-old building was created for the jeweller H Samuel.

It is now in such a desperate condition that the emergency services are not allowed inside – although the land it sits on is valuable.

The Meyrick Estate last year began legal proceedings to secure the site, alleging it was not being maintained by the leaseholder.

Cllr Michael Filer, from the East Cliff and Springbourne ward, told the Echo: “The latest I have been told is that the Meyrick Estate is taking a high court action against the lease holders and it won’t go ahead until the Autumn.”

The leaseholders, a firm called Boscombe Partnership, only bought the property in 2011.

The firm tried to get planning permission for a new build but could not get Meyrick’s approval.

The partnership told the Echo last year they had spent thousands of pounds securing the site and they believe Meyrick is now trying to get the site back for free.

Meyrick last year told the Echo: “The Estate has made continual efforts to press successive former tenants of the Cliff End to put the property into repair.”

The Echo contacted both parties for their latest comments but did not receive a reply.