A MAJOR project to clean up the site of an ancient monument in Church Hill has been launched after complaints about its neglect, Becky Procter.

Moons Moat Pool is set to undergo a transformation following moans from residents over litter and the stink of the stagnant water.

Redditch Council has set up the project and is currently carrying out an environmental impact survey on the site at the end of Arley Close, Barnwood Close and Exhall Close.

The council's Church Hill Alliance co-ordinator, Fran Sandy, said: "We've found out that it's a scheduled ancient monument which covers the whole of the area and almost right up to the houses.

"Before we do any major work there, we have to get permission from English Heritage.

"I've spoken to an archaeological surveyor who said it was actually a mediaeval moated homestead."

Miss Sandy said there had been an archaeological dig between 1969-74 when a number of interesting finds were discovered and were later displayed in the County Museum.

She added: "We need to do an environmental study because we need to identify how many different plants and wildlife species there are in the pool.

Miss Sandy said: "To clean up the site is going to take a long time but it could be beautiful there.

"The landscape department will go down there in the next two weeks to clean up the litter, cut back the bushes and tidy it up."