Empty home is full of rodents and flies
The owner of a run-down house faces a £40-a-day fine unless she spruces up her property.
Neighbours living near the semi-detached bungalow in Cotwell Avenue, Cowplain, have complained about the state of the empty home – which at one point had mice crawling up the filthy front room curtains.
It is now infested with flies and neighbours fear there could be hundreds of dead mice inside.
Havant Borough Council is considering whether to force the owner, Lora Hibbert, to cut back the overgrown garden, rebuild a collapsed front wall and render the side of the house.
If councillors give the go-ahead she will have two months to carry out the work or face fines of up to 40 per day. The council, using powers under the Town and Country Planning Act, could also do the work and bill the owner.
Neighbours have welcomed the move and say they cannot stand looking at the eyesore any longer.
Retired police sergeant Gordon Gibbs, who lives two houses away, said: 'One time I counted 12 mice in the window. I feel sorry for the people opposite – they keep their curtains closed so they don't have see it.
'No-one can pass without commenting on the place. It's awful. It is such a shame because the previous owners kept it well-maintained.'
The council said it had written to Mrs Hibbert at Cotwell Avenue and an address in Portsmouth, but had not yet had a reply.
In a report planning officer Bob Dawes said: 'The planning enforcement officer inspected the site, took photographs and wrote on October 23 advising the condition of the land and building was unsatisfactory.'
Councillors will decide at the 5.30pm planning meeting at the Civic Offices tomorrow night.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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