Terence and Maria Collyer, of Quince Tree Close, South Ockendon, have each been fined £500 and ordered to pay £400 costs after being found guilty in their absence of a charge relating to rubbish in their rear garden.
The couple failed to appear at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (3 May) and District Judge Comyns described their actions as showing a “wholesale lack of c-ooperation and response”.
Complaints had been made about the Collyer’s garden since September 2011 and warning letters were issued and visits made by Thurrock Council’s Environmental Protection team.
All approaches were ignored and in October 2011 a Notice was served to remove the rubbish.
The court heard that at no point did the couple respond to any contact from Thurrock Council and the garden was still full of rubbish including items that could attract vermin.
The judge said that the Collyers had deliberately absented themselves from the process of justice, and in addition to the fine and costs imposed a victim support surcharge of £15.
If they are able bodied then there are no excuses and deserve the punishment, but TBC seem to very good at pursuing tenants and court actions are eagerly sought, then on the other hand TBC are reluctant to support tenants when the issues are within their housing stock, where there are many properties with environmental, health and safety and risks to peoples health, but they push these issues about hoping tenants get fed up with asking and hope the tenants forget, when TBC fail themselves when the real problems that they should be dealing with, go on an on without a cure. Surely double standards here.
I totally agree with you big nose, double standards have always been the way of the council, just look at the last eleven years (2001) the Gov brought out the decent homes standards guidlines and that included mould as a priority. I have heard through the grapevine that Thurrock Council can be sued by their residents for sweeping this under the carpet and causing major health problems to their residents. ( ISSE who have now teamed up with the fungal reasearch trust and Government Bodies are looking into this) oh dear Thurrock Council have got themselves in hot water. Lets hope the residents will take the proof of evidence all the way to the courts, they have every rights to do so, it is their lives that has been put in danger due to this uncaring council.
This could be a bit harsh on Mr Collyer who, I am led to believe, hasn’t lived there for years and it is debatable whether, or not, he knew anything about this.
Its nice to see some residents are doing their homework (Candour)
Deirdre Lodge
Awareness campaign/black mould/Aspergillus