ACTION is being taken on a home with overgrown vegetation spilling onto the street – which has been described as an ‘eyesore’.
An address on Weymouth Bay Avenue in Weymouth was reported to Dorset Council after concerns were raised by a resident about the state of the property.
The property has been in a poor state for a number of years, as residents in the area called it an ‘eyesore’ and demanded action to be taken.
Large vegetation is covering the property’s front wall, the driveway, a caravan and hangs over the pavement.
Ivy and plants are currently growing on the front of the house, with damage to the frontage of the property. A front garden fence also appears to be on a slant angle.
A council official added that the address had sustained damage from members of the public and officers aimed to ‘protect the public from hurting themselves within the grounds’ due to the condition of the property.
An environment officer told a resident in an email: “The property reported is known to the local authority (as are many others) and we are currently undergoing a process of investigating and acting upon them in order of priority.
“This includes, but is not limited to boarding up / fencing-in and compulsory purchase (where possible and cost effective to do so)
“Current plans for this premises include the removal of vegetation to the front and sides, and the fencing off/boarding-up of the property to protect it from further damage caused by members of the general public and, due to the condition of some of the structure, to protect the public from hurting themselves within the grounds.”
It is estimated there are roughly 400 long-term empty houses within the council's boundaries, with 6,000 people looking for a suitable home on Dorset Council's housing register.
Dorset Council was unable to comment on the Weymouth Bay Avenue house, but explained how the local authority aims to investigate and examine any empty properties.
Councillor Graham Carr-Jones, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Safety said:
“We are unable to comment on individual cases.
“In general terms the council has a robust enforcement policy and has recently changed its approach to how it deals with long term empty homes. Such properties can have a significant impact on local residents; causing an eye sore, fly tipping and pest infestation, not to mention the loss of a home for a local family.
“Action can initially focus on the impact the house is having; we then attempt to engage with the owner to offer advice and financial assistance to bring the home back into use.
“Where this fails, enforcement action can be taken to bring the property back into use.
“In various parts of the county the council is actively bringing empty properties back into use by direct private purchase, offering loans and grants in return for leasing the property for homeless households, taking Compulsory Purchase action including forcing entry into houses via Magistrates Court Warrant to enable cases to be progressed.
“This is often time consuming and lengthy work, but the outcome for our communities can be significant, and helps us to meet the ever growing demand for affordable homes.”
Do you live near this home? What are your thoughts? Got any other stories to share or for me to investigate? Email me at michael.taylor@newsquest.co.uk or tweet @JournoMikeT
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