A WOMAN who moved into her dream home a year ago says she’s frustrated and furious after her neighbour’s garden was left to grow wild.
Tracey Argue, 50, has repeatedly contacted county councillor Clare Cape to complain about the “jungle” on her property.
While Tracey keeps her own property neat and tidy, her neighbour Cllr Clare Cape’s garden is completely overgrown[/caption]
But despite assurances that the overgrown foliage would be dealt with, the yard is now wilder than ever.
Tracey says the dense greenery is attracting rats to the quiet cul de sac in Pewsham, Wiltshire.
She told The Sun: “I moved here from Essex in June last year to be closer to my brother, who was in the military for 32 years and suffers from PTSD.
“This is my forever home now – it’s really special to me, especially the garden, which I absolutely love.”
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But her enjoyment of the property has been spoiled by Cllr Cape’s house.
Tracey’s own garden has been carefully tended – while on the councillor’s side, towering thorn bushes threaten to burst through their shared fence.
“It was obvious early on that my neighbour’s garden was a mess,” she said.
“It’s seriously overgrown, with 10ft high brambles and bushes and God knows what else.
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“Because it was so overgrown, it was pushing up against my fence and looked like it might knock it down.
“The area was also attracting rats, which run into my garden. It’s just disgusting and a real eyesore.”
She said she’s twice written to Lib Dem Cllr Cape, who serves on Wiltshire council.
“I asked her to sort it, but when nothing happened, I contacted Wiltshire Council in October,” Tracey said.
“They issued a statutory notice in March requiring her to address the problem and deal with any pest control issues.
“But because that’s been ignored, it’s now in the hands of the council’s solicitor.
“I’m just really upset about this now – it’s such a shame it’s come to this.
Her garden is seriously overgrown with 10ft high brambles and bushes and God knows what else
Tracey Argue
“The brambles are coming through the fence and damaging it. I just want it to stop.”
The local authority issued Cllr Cape with a notice to clear her garden and carry out pest control treatment on March 18. The deadline passed without any changes to the land, and the case is now being dealt with by lawyers.
It’s understood the council itself will pay a contractor to clear the garden.
The Sun has made a number of attempts to contact Cllr Cape for comment.
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Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, cabinet member for public protection, said: “It would be inappropriate for the council to comment on specific enforcement complaints or cases.
“However, in general terms, if the council do receive any complaints they are considered in line with appropriate enforcement legislation and the regulator’s code.”
Tracey says the ‘jungle’ next door is attracting vermin including rats and mice[/caption]
Sun Online has made repeated attempts to contact Cllr Cape[/caption]
