Council urged to take control of neglected property in Dringhouses, York (From York Press)
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Council urged to take control of neglected property in Dringhouses, York
9:30am Thursday 2nd September 2010 in
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- By Nicola Fifield » Senior reporter
COUNCIL bosses in York are being urged to take control of a dilapidated home that has blighted neighbours’ lives for 12 years, and return it to use.
The rundown property in Lerecroft Road, Dringhouses, has been empty since the owner moved out more than a decade ago.
Neighbours said they were fed up with living next door to the property, which they described as an “eyesore”.
Tracey Simpson-Laing, housing spokesperson for City of York Council’s Labour group, said she would call on the council to use new powers to take control of the neglected house.
Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs) enable local authorities to take over management of long-term privately-owned empty homes and bring them back into occupation.
Coun Simpson-Laing said: “EDMOs were brought in for properties such as this, which are unpleasant in the area and cause a blight on neighbours’ lives.
“The council has these powers and it is about time they used them to get this property back into use, as York needs affordable rented housing.”
Neighbour Chris Bland said: “The garden is so overgrown it’s like a jungle and the house is falling down. It’s virtually inhabitable.
“It was broken into three years ago and it was me that had to arrange for it to get boarded up because if I hadn’t nobody else would have done.”
Graham Spaven, whose mother lives next door to the empty property, said: “This is a very nice street in Dringhouses, so why is this eyesore allowed to continue? After 12 years this has gone beyond a joke.”
A council spokeswoman said using an EDMO was not an option as members of the executive had made a decision in 2008 not to use these powers to take control of long-term empty houses.
However, Ruth Abbott, the council’s housing standards and adaptations manager, said they would not rule out using a Compulsory Purchase Order to take ownership of the property in Lerecroft Road.
She said: “We are aware of the issue and have made contact with the owner of the property. We are hoping to meet the owner shortly to discuss how we can help improve the situation.”
The Press tried to contact the owner of the property, but was not successful.
Comments(21)
York Fox
says...
9:48am Thu 2 Sep 10
lilythepink
says...
10:28am Thu 2 Sep 10
oldgoat
says...
11:18am Thu 2 Sep 10
If this house is privately owned, the owner should be making some money by renting it out. Otherwise, they're missing a trick surely?
Pedro
says...
11:24am Thu 2 Sep 10
Beagleboy
says...
12:22pm Thu 2 Sep 10
lilythepink wrote:Somebody actually lives in that one down Gale Lane!!!
While they're at it, they should do something about that eyesore of a house down Gale Lane. It's on the left going towards Cornlands Road from Foxwood end. All their neighbours are really tidy, but there is one that looks even worse than the one in Lerecroft.
Beagleboy
says...
12:25pm Thu 2 Sep 10
tonezzzznoddedoff
says...
1:06pm Thu 2 Sep 10
redblueblur
says...
1:29pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Chumpy
says...
1:40pm Thu 2 Sep 10
tonezzzznoddedoff wrote:Its an extension not a garage, i used to know the people who owned the house years ago when they had it built, not sure if its the same ones who own it now.
Looks like a nice house and garage, suprised its not full of squatters or gypos by now.
Was a nice house back then , shame to see it like this.
hifive
says...
1:54pm Thu 2 Sep 10
rattydriver
says...
2:32pm Thu 2 Sep 10
meme
says...
3:42pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Only as a very last resort and umpteen court cases are they removed and they are just as much a blight on an area as a poorly looked after house so TSL before you get on your high horse about needing affordable homes sort out the Councils properties first rather than trying to steal private owners property.
sadfaz
says...
5:30pm Thu 2 Sep 10
lilythepink wrote:I am one of the people who live very close to the house in Gale Lane,its a disgrace but its privately owned and people have tried to sort it out with the environmental health and council but drawn blanks.
While they're at it, they should do something about that eyesore of a house down Gale Lane. It's on the left going towards Cornlands Road from Foxwood end. All their neighbours are really tidy, but there is one that looks even worse than the one in Lerecroft.
This house as had permanent occupation for decades,the occupants just don't care,its depressing to look at and hard to ignore.
Silver
says...
8:08pm Thu 2 Sep 10
tonezzzznoddedoff wrote:Why not charge someone who wants to live there a cheap rent so they can they do it up? On a deal that they have to move out after a set period say 10 years? If the current owners aren't doing anything with it. It would mean someone could live there and be responsible for it. Problem solved then after they've gotten the joy of doing it up. They could after having had a cheap rent be able to buy it off the owner? Problem solved after all if you fixed it up it'd be a nice house to own. No government interference
Looks like a nice house and garage, suprised its not full of squatters or gypos by now.
King Edward
says...
10:08pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Head of Bomber Command
says...
5:52am Fri 3 Sep 10
spiritofyork
says...
9:20am Fri 3 Sep 10
YUalwayswhinging?
says...
11:00am Fri 3 Sep 10
Do I get paid an editorial fee?
sadfaz
says...
2:51pm Fri 3 Sep 10
Head of Bomber Command wrote:Up to a point your right but most humans like to live in a clean tidy environment,the one in the picture is a palace compared to the one lilly and myself are talking about.
Snobs!!!
Unhappy60
says...
10:04pm Fri 3 Sep 10
York Fox wrote:Why are people allowed to let their houses get in such a mess it is just pure lazyness. You get fined for littering the streets but when your house is an eyesore everyone turns a blind eye. Clean up you lazy people.
"Virtually inhabitable"? Shouldn't take much to put it right then!
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The derelict property in Lerecroft Road, Dringhouses, York
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Garrowby Turnoff says...
9:36am Thu 2 Sep 10