There is a new head turning feature on Wellington's High Street - weeds sprouting from the upstairs windows of a former bakery.
A buddleia bush can now be seen growing from a prime position flat on the corner of South Street.
The building was previously the premises of Kaffee Klatsch, which opened in March 2022 before closing just a few weeks later without explanation or notice. The property has remained vacant ever since.
The bakery business is owned by American husband and wife, Ryan and Roseanne Bolesky, who between them are directors of several bakery companies, some of which are dissolved.
In April this year, their Wellington company was issued with notice that it was to be stricken from the registrar. However that order appears to have been suspended after an objection was lodged.
Companies House records also show the firm's accounts are overdue. Both Ryan and Roseanne remain 'active' directors of the firm.
The building being left vacant for over a year appears to be resulting in a degrading of the building. With a bush growing from an upstairs window, a semi-gutted interior and a pile of post gathering behind the door, it joins Teares and the former Children's Hospice Shop as another prominent eyesore in the town centre.
Wellington Town Cllr Zoe Barr expressed her concern over the former bakery building, and others, which have been left vacant. She said:
“I have been concerned for a long time about the state of the town centre and the fact that Somerset Council doesn’t seem to take the conservation area status seriously enough.
“We have had to put up with the Teares eyesore for far too long and the council has been far too slow to do anything about it.
“Now we have other buildings which need attention like the old bakery on the corner of South Street, with that eyesore buddleia bush growing from a top window.
“Then there is the former Children’s Hospice shop, which is increasingly looking derelict. The unitary council really needs to get much tougher or there is no point having a conservation area.”
It is unclear whether the Mr and Mrs Bolesky own the building, however the contact details given on a 'for sale' sign in the shopfront could indicate the couple are managing the sale.
The owners of Kaffee Klatsch were approached for comment, but did not respond before publication.