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Resident 'terrified' to garden after newsletter
10:29pm Thursday 31st July 2008
RESIDENTS in council owned properties have been told they could face being thrown out of their homes if they fail to keep their gardens tidy.
Householders in council houses in Berwick Road, Marlow, were stunned when they received a Wycombe District Council newsletter this week warning them: "Any tenants who do not keep their gardens tidy may find themselves being faced with legal action that could result in them losing their homes."
Micheal Day, 60, who is retired due to disability, was one of those who received the letter.
He said: "I think it's quite frightening. When I moved in here I loved gardening and now I'm terrified of it.
"I think it's strange to say you could lose your home because of the length of your grass and personally, I wouldn't have thought it was serious enough thing to evict someone for.
The newsletter, called "Housing Matters", has been issued to all council house tenants and leaseholders across Wycombe district.
Mr Day added:"It's not like swearing and shouting, it's not causing much disturbance. I think it's fear that's driving other residents on to keep their garden tidy."
Wycombe District Council has released a statement saying that as of yet no one has been evicted from a council house on the basis of having an untidy garden.
According to council spokeswoman Catherine Spalton, "every effort is made to try and resolve the matter before it reaches such a formal stage."
She said: "Housing Matters is a magazine produced quarterly for all council tenants and leaseholders.
"In consultation with the Tenant and Leaseholder Committee, a note was included in the summer edition of the magazine reminding tenants of their responsibility to maintain their gardens in line with their conditions of tenancy."
Vivien Smith, a 53-year-old cleaner, of Berwick Road, said: "It's disgusting, it's like fascism. What about people who are physically unable to look after their gardens? I personally suffer with bad back trouble.
"They will start imposing fines and if you have more than six gladioli you will be sent off to prison."
Neighbours in privately owned homes agreed with their sentiments.
Dave Heath, a 66-year-old retired builder, said: "It's a bit drastic. I can understand someone not wanting to live next door to a tip but this is a bit harsh.
"There are more delicate ways of going about it than this, it's extremely undiplomatic."
Council spokeswoman Catherine Spalton said: "The majority of tenants maintain their gardens to an acceptable standard, but where we have proven complaints about a garden that is exceptionally overgrown and/or full of rubbish, is causing a nuisance and is considered to be an eyesore to neighbouring properties, we would contact the tenant concerned and agree a time-frame for them to carry out necessary maintenance works."
Your Say YourBucks
Spitfire, High Wycombe says...
10:42pm Thu 31 Jul 08
I'm sure all the council are asking of you is to not leave car parts littering your lawn.
It's the least you could do you lousy freeloaders.
tiger, high wycombe says...
11:20pm Thu 31 Jul 08
I do think that sometimes the public should be made aware of just how squallid some council house properties really are left in due to the increasing number of layabouts that are unfortunatley allowed to breed. You would be horrified at the state of some properties!
Ivor, says...
11:55pm Thu 31 Jul 08
Any tenants who do not keep their gardens tidy may find themselves being faced with legal action that could result in them losing their homes.And exactly who is going to inspect the gardens to see if they are tidy? Perhaps there will be garden inspection officers employed by the Council to do the job?
This is another example of silliness from those who should know better and we are paying for it through our Council Tax!
Have you read Ivors blog today? Click on the Opinion link on the menu on the left then click on Readers Blogs.
Observer, of Gardens says...
12:05am Fri 1 Aug 08
Why consuult or talk to people when you can send them threatening newsletters?
George - Wycombe, says...
12:52am Fri 1 Aug 08
I am sure the letter has been taken in the wrong context by those complaining, looking around the district there are elements of society who are litter bugs but they are from homeowners, lettings or council tenants, what do the council intend doing about Letting Agents (many homes are let to students) and homeowners who appear to enjoy living in squalor?
andi-shirley, High Wycombe says...
12:54am Fri 1 Aug 08
Lib/Lab Watch, Watching Left Wing Nutters says...
7:37am Fri 1 Aug 08
SBJones, Wycombe says...
7:39am Fri 1 Aug 08
kazza, high wycombe says...
9:50am Fri 1 Aug 08
Lo_Wycombe, Bowerdean Rd says...
10:14am Fri 1 Aug 08
Walking into town along Underwood road you would think we were in a 3rd world country, I see sofas in garden toys, tyres, bits of car....
Lazy, scrounging, vermin, they should be neutered at 13 years old to stop them reproducing
smokey, high wycombe says...
12:15pm Fri 1 Aug 08
Spitfire wrote:SPITFIRE!!!!!!
What a lazy little tart. I'm sure all the council are asking of you is to not leave car parts littering your lawn. It's the least you could do you lousy freeloaders.
Go to the back of the class and write "I must not be so judgemental 4 billion times!"
Not all council tenants are like that!
Spitfire, High Wycombe says...
12:28pm Fri 1 Aug 08
smokey wrote:Well of course they're not. My comment was, as was presumably the council's letter, directed at those minority that are lazy scum who have littered their lawn with car parts and old sofas.
Spitfire wrote: What a lazy little tart. I'm sure all the council are asking of you is to not leave car parts littering your lawn. It's the least you could do you lousy freeloaders.SPITFIRE!!!!!! Go to the back of the class and write "I must not be so judgemental 4 billion times!" Not all council tenants are like that!
As always the BFP has published a lot of hearsay and over-reaction and failed to print any direct quotes from the letter. It would be nice to see what the letter actually says.
David St, High Wycombe says...
12:37pm Fri 1 Aug 08
smokey, high wycombe says...
12:51pm Fri 1 Aug 08
Spitfire wrote:whoops!!
smokey wrote:Well of course they're not. My comment was, as was presumably the council's letter, directed at those minority that are lazy scum who have littered their lawn with car parts and old sofas. As always the BFP has published a lot of hearsay and over-reaction and failed to print any direct quotes from the letter. It would be nice to see what the letter actually says.Spitfire wrote: What a lazy little tart. I'm sure all the council are asking of you is to not leave car parts littering your lawn. It's the least you could do you lousy freeloaders.SPITFIRE!!!!!! Go to the back of the class and write "I must not be so judgemental 4 billion times!" Not all council tenants are like that!
Sorry sweetie
I stand corrected in my righteous indignation. i thought you had been afflicted by the MID ( mad Ivor disease!) LOL
SuperSharpShooter, The Wyc says...
1:25pm Fri 1 Aug 08
smokey, high wycombe says...
1:30pm Fri 1 Aug 08
SuperSharpShooter wrote:Now you see, I thought this as well but wasn't as brave as you!!!
remember that this story is about Marlow. A place of outstanding natural snobbery, where the locals were hell bent on kicking out affordable housing which would have been occupied by teachers and nurses etc.. I say grow your lawns and park caravans and tractors everywhere!!
Icarvs, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil says...
2:12pm Fri 1 Aug 08
Do you honestly think that the council would evict someone due to the grass being too long? Dont be daft!! They find it hard enough to evict some people (I use the term 'people' in it broadest sense!) who are a complete and utter waste of human genetics and cause trouble and strife for many decent people so i doubt they would just for long grass!!
Despite the fact all Council´s newsletter content wasn´t disclosed to all, it´s very clear and obvious that tenants must keep tenancy up or else...
"In consultation with the Tenant and Leaseholder Committee, a note was included in the summer edition of the magazine reminding tenants of their responsibility to maintain their gardens in line with their conditions of tenancy."
Since things haven´t reached out formal and legal claims yet, you better put your rheumathoid arthritis,spinal stenosis,scoliosis,l
ow back pain and lazyness off line and clear your garden as soon as possible!
tom, marlow says...
2:46pm Fri 1 Aug 08
remember that this story is about Marlow. A place of outstanding natural snobbery, where the locals were hell bent on kicking out affordable housing which would have been occupied by teachers and nurses etc.. I say grow your lawns and park caravans and tractors everywhere!!
Would you care to substantiate that claim?
smokey, high wycombe says...
3:11pm Fri 1 Aug 08
*runs away PDQ before the Marlow posse comes and beats me with their baskets and green wellies*
SuperSharpShooter, The Wyc says...
3:34pm Fri 1 Aug 08
tom wrote:not really.. you can trawl through the minutes circa 2005
remember that this story is about Marlow. A place of outstanding natural snobbery, where the locals were hell bent on kicking out affordable housing which would have been occupied by teachers and nurses etc.. I say grow your lawns and park caravans and tractors everywhere!!Would you care to substantiate that claim?
tom, marlow says...
3:40pm Fri 1 Aug 08
The lack of reasonably priced housing in marlow or anywhere else is nothing to do with snobbery. Its the legacy of the evil witch thatcher and the dogmatic sell-off of council housing.
I hate the term affordable housing. It just hides the fact that nurses, teachers etc are horribly underpaid. Any house is affordable to someone. What is needed is either an increase in pay or subsidised housing. Lets be honest about it.
And not being snobbish but part dismantled cars in front gardens look bad anywhere, not just in Marlow
tom, marlow says...
3:43pm Fri 1 Aug 08
SuperSharpShooter wrote
not really.. you can trawl through the minutes circa 2005
So your talking out of your rear end then?
SuperSharpShooter, The Wyc says...
4:59pm Fri 1 Aug 08
tom wrote:nope, just cant be bothered going through all the residents meetings minutes of 2005. you are obviously new to the area as you dont remember reports in local press and on this very website. welcome to the wycombe area..
SuperSharpShooter wrote not really.. you can trawl through the minutes circa 2005So your talking out of your rear end then?
Town Cryer, Wycombe says...
1:23pm Sat 2 Aug 08
Happening in private sector-- how long will it be before WDC sell out to earn a quick profit doing the same ???
tom, marlow says...
9:30pm Sat 2 Aug 08
SuperSharpShooter wrote
nope, just cant be bothered going through all the residents meetings minutes of 2005. you are obviously new to the area as you dont remember reports in local press and on this very website. welcome to the wycombe area
Nope, I've been living in Marlow for 25 years and I've never been aware of
"the locals were hell bent on kicking out affordable housing which would have been occupied by teachers and nurses etc.."
I dont think there been any significant loss of housing at that end of the market other than the sale of council houses. Thats been tory policy since the early 80's.
What residents meetings?
Steve, Totteridge Hill says...
10:47am Mon 4 Aug 08
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kazza, high wycombe says...
10:33pm Thu 31 Jul 08
Yet she is a 'cleaner' so therefore would presume heavy lifting involved, so garden should be no problem!