Council clears eyesore enforcement notice site

Residents in a Bray cul-de-sac are enjoying an improved view from their houses after Royal Borough officers moved in to clear a property cluttered with rubbish and untaxed vehicles.

Planning enforcement and streetcare officers - with the support of the police - removed three derelict, unused and untaxed vehicles, household furniture, domestic appliances and clothing from the front, side and back garden of 17 Court Close plus the unauthorised front entrance gates. Contractors with specialised lorries fitted with cranes lifted the vehicles from the site.

The action was taken on Wednesday 16 November after occupant Ludmilla Sweeney failed to comply with an enforcement notice served on 24 November 2010.

Ms Sweeney lodged an appeal against the notice and a hearing was held at Maidenhead Town Hall on 31 August of this year. When Ms Sweeney did not appear the planning inspector agreed to continue without her.

The appeal was dismissed and the requirements of the notice upheld with Ms Sweeney required to remove the rubbish by Monday 14 November, which she failed to do.

As well as the three vehicles, the Royal Borough team removed an estimated three tonnes of rubbish and a separate lorry-full of metal waste. After the removal work was completed the team swept and tidied up the site.

Cllr Christine Bateson, cabinet member for planning and partnerships, said: "The clutter accumulated on this property has been a blight on the neighbours' landscape for many years.

"Following the decision by the planning inspectorate to uphold the enforcement notice - and then the failure of the occupant to comply with the notice - it was decided to take prompt action and get the mess cleared."

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