A WILD overgrown garden filled with cars covered in vines is taking over a street – forcing one neighbour to rebuild their garden wall.
The property is covered in crawling greenery, trees and out of control shrubs growing around a van, car and even a boat in Ramsgate.
7
7
7
One of the neighbouring properties has been forced to rebuild their garden wall after buying their home in lockdown.
Another asked their mysterious next-door neighbour to cut down some of the wild plants that were creeping onto their property – which was obliged.
Pals of the homeowner described him as a “lovely, well-kept man”, saying he could do what he likes with the house.
But Thanet District Council have been unable to engage with the owner of the home, leaving some locals frustrated.
One neighbour told the Sun: “The locals are aware of it, the PCSOs and the fire brigade have been round a few times.
“The post office doesn’t even bother anymore, if they get anything for him they mark it all undeliverable.
“I don’t understand how there is no responsibility for it, you have people walking up and down picking up litter.
“I’m left thinking seriously what is the point of that when you have this there.
“It isn’t as bad as it was, it has been cut down a bit. But the front is completely overgrown.”
Most read in News
Other locals said the owner of the home was an “enigma” and kept himself to himself.
One neighbour, called Ted, said: “I just sometimes see him to say hello to.
“He gets in and out over the back. He is very nice, but a bit secluded really.
“The house is definitely lived in, he doesn’t do a lot with it though. He leaves us alone so we leave him alone.”
Rena Reves, 40, added: “He is an enigma wrapped in bush. I’ve lived here for 12 years and it’s always been like this.
“There used to be a little path that went up to the front door but that’s long gone.
“I think squirrels live in one of the vans at the front of the garden.
“The problem is when it starts affecting other people, you can live how you like until then.
‘ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THAT’
“Some of the vines have started going to the chimney of the other house, and if it gets into the brickwork that won’t be any good.
“He is very much is a recluse who keeps himself to himself.
“Sometimes you see a little light on in the property but nothing else.
“When he does leave he has to go through the back because the front is so overgrown.
“He did cut some of it back when another neighbour asked, when they moved in a few years ago.
“It’s just always been like that for as long as I can remember.”
But some locals think that more needs to be done about the property, claiming the shrubbery sometimes forces people to walk in the road.
One said: “People used to have to walk in the road to get around it and it just isn’t safe.
“I can’t understand how it has been left to get like this, how is there not some duty by the council or anyone else.
7
7
7
“Every time I have moved back to the area it has just progressively gotten worse.
“The vines were covering the windows of one of the houses right next door at one stage.
“People have said that a man does live there, and hear noises but there is no way of knowing what they are.
“There is sometimes a light on in the property, but you don’t see anyone.”
However, friends of the owner have defended him, saying: “He’s a lovely man. Done a lot for charity.
“It doesn’t bother him. He goes in the back way, he keeps himself lovely and clean.
“Always polite, well trimmed and dressed. He does live there and has for a while.
“He is a bit of a recluse, but it’s always been like that.
“It’s his property. He can do what he wants. He owns the house.”
A spokesman for Thanet District Council said: “We are aware of the situation at the property on Boundary Road, Ramsgate and our Empty Homes Team has attempted to engage with the owner on more than one occasion, unfortunately without success.
“A council inspector will be visiting the property to assess the current position and to determine whether we have recourse to any legal enforcement.
“Our primary aim will be to bring the property back into residential use, it could provide a much needed home in this time of ever growing housing needs.”
7
