A former takeaway “colonized by pigeons and infested by rats” is a danger to public health, residents have warned.

The abandoned Indian in historic St Dunstan’s Street, Canterbury, has fallen into such disrepair council officers are attempting to trace the owners.

Meanwhile, calls are intensifying for the “shameful” site to be dealt with, particularly sections of the frontage which, residents fear, could collapse.

Formerly known as the Raj Venue, bosses shut during the pandemic and the Grade II-listed structure has languished empty ever since.

Neighbour David Sadler told KentOnline: “This building is not only an eyesore but represents a danger to the community as portions of the guttering appear about to fall onto the street below.

“The back courtyard is laden with abandoned equipment, is colonized by pigeons and infested by rats.

“In one of Canterbury’s most historic and noted conservation areas, it is a shameful embarrassment and it is a scandal that it has not been seized by the council and forced into mandatory repairs by the owner.

“Even if you have to have a big poster like that, which I’m not very sympathetic to, what an awful place to put it. It’s like, this is what the West End is like - a falling down building.”

Just one month ago, Canterbury Business Improvement District (BID), a consortium of traders, pooled resources to use the building in a marketing drive designed to promote the area as 'Canterbury’s West End'.

Yet before long, BID’s decision to harness the Raj as its campaign poster child came in for criticism.

Some pointed out a perceived irony in posters promoting the area emblazoned across the building while it was infested with rats.

“This whole area has such character, it is a conservation area and I think we must have one of the most photographed houses in Kent,” Mr Sadler explained.

“The so-called rebranding of the St Dunstan’s area as the city’s West End is ill-advised. It simply does not fit the style and appearance of this historic area.

“Further, using the filthy facade of the abandoned restaurant, the Raj Venue, as the location for the rebranding announcement demeans the intended message.”

The 85-year-old continued: “We went into the kitchen a couple of times and bloody hell I wouldn’t eat there. It was really grim.

“They have this awful mess outside that is really an eyesore. They also knocked down some walls and its a Grade II-listed building so they were outlaws really.”

The courtyard to the rear of the property is littered with waste - the dumped remains of a commercial kitchen left to rot.

Mr Sadler told KentOnline that while he was sure the council were doing their best to resolve the issue, progress had been slow.

A spokesman for Canterbury City Council said: “We are aware of this building and are currently making efforts to track down the owner.

“We want to have a conservation with them about their long term plans for the building and also, in the short term, what they intend to do in order to keep the building in good order."

The rebranding of one of Canterbury’s most historic areas as “the West End” divided opinion - with some baffled by the association with its glitzy London namesake.

The marketing strategy for St Dunstan’s, which has been placed in a new business quarter, aims to promote the bustling street to shoppers.

Traders are said to be in support of the designation but others say it does not properly pay homage to the area’s heritage and character.

The initiative is being promoted by BID, which works towards improving the city, as a way of “celebrating its food, shopping, arts and entertainment”.

The organisation insists St Dunstan’s has not been renamed but rather remarketed to reflect what it has to offer.

The new quarter also encompasses the Westgate Towers, St Peter’s Street, the Westgate Hall, the Curzon Cinema and Marlowe Theatre.

A spokesman for Canterbury BID added: “I’m afraid we aren’t aware of any progress on the building.

“We wanted to brighten up the building as it is looking very sad at the moment, so added the colourful vinyls on top of the pre-existing boards and washed the walls and pavement around it.

“We would really love to see the building filled with business again as it is fantastic location and hope that progress is made soon.”