A nightmare neighbour who turned the front driveway of their home into a makeshift dump has been forced to move out.
Residents of Peach Avenue in Stafford are breathing a sigh of relief after tenant, Steven Glover, was slapped with a court order.
Stafford Borough Council secured a three-month closure order from magistrates last week, meaning no-one is allowed to enter the property for the next three months, with the exception of emergency services or council workers.
Council workers have finally begun to remove the piles of debris, which includes furniture, rubble and wooden panels after Glover failed to comply with a notice ordering him to remove the waste and clear up the garden to its previous state.
The rubbish was piled high outside the Stafford property
Stafford Borough Council
Speaking before the court action, one mum-of-two, who did not want to be named, told the BBC: “I first complained to the council last August and it has just snowballed from there. In November they were able to confirm to me they didn’t have a licence to do this, yet nothing was done.
“There’s rats everywhere, it towers so high I don’t know how it hasn’t fallen over yet and it absolutely stinks. There’s metal spilling out into the street, its not just confined to the garden, I’ve lost count at how any cars have had their tyres punctured.
“It’s not safe. Its a major health hazard and its been allowed to rot for a year. There’s debris everywhere. He’ll come out and smash glass.
“I’m just so disheartened that we’ve been left to live next to this without anyone seemingly wanting to help.”
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Work has begun to finally clear the property
Stafford Borough Council
Stafford Borough Council is overseeing the clean-up and has said they will be billing the tenant to recover the costs of the work, which is expected to run into thousands of pounds.
Cabinet member for environment Cllr Ian Fordham said: “I hope this will bring an end to the misery this person has brought to the residents of Peach Avenue. It was crucial that we had the proper legal process in place to not only get this unsightly mess removed, but to ensure it did not happen on this land again.
“We have secured a closure order from the courts that bans anyone, including the tenant, from stepping foot on the property. If they do they can be arrested. We have arranged for the house to be boarded up and for this significant amount of rubbish to be removed. We will be billing the tenant or owner for the cost of doing that.
“We will be working with the owner to make sure the house can be brought back into use and become a positive addition to the street. Thank you to the police and other partners for their help in making sure we get the right outcome for the neighbours and we will work with residents to address any ongoing concerns they may have.”
Stafford Borough Council confirmed the tenant has been removed
Getty
Speaking about the rubbish before the court order, one resident said: “My son was poorly for five months and off school for eight weeks. He has asthma and couldn’t breathe. But they don’t care, they just carry on doing what they want.
“There’s metal spilling out into the street, its not just confined to the garden, I’ve lost count at how any cars have had their tyres punctured.
Another added: “There’s also antisocial behaviour and parties until late at night. We tried contacting police but they’ve said its a civil matter. We’re at the end of our tether. Children have to walk past it every day on the way to school.”
