Our neighbour was charged £3,000 for letting junk pile up in his garden – the punishment is dividing opinion
A HOMEOWNER who piled broken fridges, old road signs and even a car into his garden has been charged almost £3,000.
The man, in his mid-50s, is said to like collecting waste products and storing them in front of his house in Seaford, East Sussex.
He reportedly distributed many of the items which were still useful among people in the community.
But the huge mound of “debris”, which also included wooden pallets, power tools and overgrown weeds, attracted complaints from some nearby residents who moaned to the council.
When he ignored an order to remove the “rubbish”, the local authority sent workmen round to clear the “junkyard”.
Contractors spent two and a half days disposing of the “mess” that filled the front, rear and side garden of the property.
Now, a £2,700 charge has been levied on his house, which he will have to pay if or when he sells it.
Last night, neighbours pledged their support for the “hoarder” and rounded on Lewes and Eastbourne Council for charging him so much.
Rebecca Phipps, 55, who has known her neighbour all her life, said: “He’s an absolute gem and we love him.
“He’s always looking out for people and helping them and wouldn’t hurt a fly.
“Yes, his garden was a bit of a mess and sometimes it would get out of control but he liked to collect things and see if he could put them to good use.
“It’s such a shame that he has been landed with this charge because he definitely can’t afford it.”
Another neighbour described the man as having a “heart of gold” before adding: “It doesn’t bother me that he uses his garden to store things.
“I don’t see what right the council has to be able to go onto his land and order him to remove his own property.
“I’d be furious if someone came to my house and started ordering me to live a certain way.
“We live in a free country and he should be able to keep what he likes in his front garden.”
‘JUNKYARD’ GARDEN
A third local, who did not wish to be named, was slightly more sceptical.
He said: “He’s a lovely guy but he’s a bit of a hoarder.
“The garden is clear now so let’s see how it goes.”
The council said the resident was served a section 215 untidy notice which gave him two months to clean up the “large quantity of debris”, but he did not comply.
A spokesperson said: “With the rubbish on view to neighbours and people using a nearby footpath for some time, the ‘junkyard’ garden was spoiling the local environment.”
Councillor Julie Carr, Cabinet Member for Recycling, Waste and Open Spaces, added: “The outside of this property had become a blight on the landscape for people living nearby and those using a footpath next to it.
“Our requests to the resident to properly dispose of the waste, which ranged from white goods to old road signs, fell on deaf ears so we had to take direct action ourselves.
“Anyone else who uses their garden as a junkyard should be aware that they will not get away with damaging the look of the neighbourhood.”
The charge on the house was made to cover the costs of the clearance work and will be recovered when the property is sold.
The homeowner was unavailable for comment.
What is a section 215 notice?
SECTION 215 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 allows councils to demand land be cleaned up when it’s condition “adversely affects the amenity of the area”.
Notices can be served which require owners to remedy the situation within a certain timeframe.
This usually involves clearance, tidying or repairs, but can also mean rebuilding and demolition.
Notices can be issued on industrial sites, high street frontages, rural sites, derelict buildings, residential properties and overgrown gardens.
Problems can include fly tipping, fallen fences, construction waste, abandoned vehicles, and old or damaged brickwork.
If orders are ignored or not met, local authorities have the power to undertake the clean up works themselves.
They can then recover the costs from the landowner.