Homeowner Fined for Ignoring Warning Over Property Eyesore

A LANDOWNER has been hit with a bill of nearly £750 after ignoring warnings to tidy up his rundown property in Syston.

Martin Bryant, of Chatsworth Drive, Syston, had allowed his property to become rundown, littered with debris and a rusty van and overgrown with vegetation.

Complaints about the state of the property were first made to Charnwood Borough Council in 2007 and officers attempted to make contact with Bryant without success.

They finally issued by hand an enforcement notice on May 13, 2011, directing Bryant to clear up the property within three months. But by September 24, 2011, no attempt had been made to tidy the property although the van has been removed.

Councillor Matthew Blain, Charnwood Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Planning, said: “Enforcement is a last resort for the Council and in this case we had no choice but to take court action.

“We have a duty under the Town and Country Planning Act to ensure that the appearance of properties does not blight local communities and neighbourhoods.

“Unfortunately, this resident failed to heed our warnings and was found to be in breach of the enforcement notice.”

Leicester Magistrates’ Court heard on December 8, 2011, how the property was littered with rubbish including wooden pallets, black bin liners full of rubbish, other general detritus and a rotting van.

The van was eventually removed.

The court found in favour of the Council in Bryant’s absence and he was fined a total of £744.74 which included a £450 fine for the offence, an order to pay the Council’s legal costs of £279.74 and £15 Victim Surcharge to be paid within 14 days.

Council officers will continue to monitor the property to ensure the issue is resolved.