Row over Epsom 'hoarder's' messy garden (From Epsom Guardian)

Row over Epsom 'hoarder's' messy garden

9:30am Thursday 8th January 2009

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A council has failed to enforce a notice demanding a “hoarder” to remove a mess of old cars and used tyres from his front garden, a councillor claimed.

Conservative Councillor Sean Sullivan said Epsom and Ewell Council obtained a court order allowing them to clear the front and back of the property, a detached house in Ashley Road, Epsom, because the owner had not done it himself.

“The council is at present refusing to enforce that order. I think this can only be due to them not wishing to spend the money that enforcement entails,” Coun Sullivan said.

The council claims the court order has been adhered to, however, four old cars and pieces of wood, metal, plastic and used tyres in and around a skip are some of the bits of rubbish annoying other residents in the area.

A neighbour who did not want to be identified said: “It’s been like this for years. The council managed to get him to put some of the rubbish in a skip, but there’s still a lot of it around.”

Coun Sullivan said: “Before I was elected, local residents were told that the council couldn’t do anything because it was private property. We’ve proved that wrong, but we now need the council to get on and use its powers.”

Diana Coman, a spokeswoman for the Liberal Democrats in Woodcote ward said that although the situation was more complex than it appeared, other residents should not have to put up with the mess.

“Sometimes when a person has a compulsive condition it may be a bit complex to resolve it.

“I would hope the council is dealing with the situation sensitively, but I would also recognise the public nuisance involved,” she said.

A spokeswoman for the council said: “The resident at Green Gables has voluntarily cleared the front and back gardens of his house of the rubbish as outlined in a notice issued by Epsom and Ewell Council under Section 215 of the Planning Act 1990.

“The council has been closely monitoring the situation and has worked with the resident to ensure clearance of the site.”

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