Telford man gets £1,584 bill for 'eyesore' garden
A man who failed to clean up his "eyesore" garden in Telford which was strewn with disused vehicles, scrap metal and other waste has been handed a court bill of more than £1,500.
Enforcement action was taken against 61-year-old Rudolph Dennis by Telford & Wrekin Council after a complaint was made about the state of his property.
Alongside vehicles – some described as "not roadworthy" – council officers found fridges, freezers, timber, paint pots and other general waste.
Dennis had denied failing to comply with an enforcement notice to clean up his garden in Parkdale, Hadley, in July last year.
His trial proceeded at Telford Magistrates Court in his absence. Ms Catherine Girvan, prosecuting, said Dennis' garden was an "eyesore". She said the council received an original complaint in 2014.
It resulted in the authority issuing an enforcement notice and the condition of the property improved. Ms Girvan said a further complaint was made in December 2015.
An enforcement officer visited the address and found vehicles and scrap metal at the front and side of the property. Ms Girvan said the back garden was also overgrown and strewn with debris.
The council issued an enforcement notice in April last year requiring Dennis to clean up his garden. It ordered him to remove scrap metal and disused vehicles, white goods including fridges and freezers, timber, paint pots and other waste. He was given two months to comply with the notice.
An officer visited in July 2016 and saw a slight improvement but there were still issues in the upcoming months, the court heard. Ms Girvan said: "The rubbish isn't particularly visible from the road but it is visible to neighbours.
"It was noted the land was unacceptable in appearance of both the front and the back."
Photographs were taken of the state of the property in August last year by the enforcement officer.
They showed vehicles surrounding the property, white goods and other rubbish in the garden. Ms Girvan said inquiries were made and it was confirmed that Dennis was the owner of the land.
Magistrates found the case proven in Dennis' absence. He was fined £440, ordered to pay £1,100 costs and a £44 victim surcharge. He has been given 28 days to pay the bill in full. Further prosecutions could be brought against Dennis if he fails to clear the land.
