Overgrown Glenmore property an eyesore
"Vagrants have been living in the house, and I have watched it being stripped bit by bit."
RESIDENTS in Pitcairn Road, Glenmore are appealing to the municipality to take action against the owner of a property on the road which has become an overgrown eyesore and a safe haven for criminals.
According to resident Sean Wessels, the house has stood empty for the past five years, following an issue with the previous owner’s estate.
He said residents have watched the property deteriorate over the years, with just the shell of the house left after being ravaged by vandals.
The property is overgrown and neighbours have complained about an increase in snakes and rats which in their own properties.
“Vagrants have been living in the house and I have watched it being stripped bit by bit. I went on holiday in December and when I got back, I noticed the metal and glass from the front veranda had been removed. Cupboard doors have been stolen along with pipes, taps, baths, lights and all the windows have been removed. Creepers are now growing through the ceiling boards. One day I heard hammering in the house, then later saw a man walking up the road pushing a trolley containing drain pipes which he had cut up. Neighbours have had their washing and pipes stolen and are having a huge issue with snakes and rats in their properties,” said Wessels.
He said the garage of the property was open and vagrants had been found sleeping in there.
“Neighbours on either side of the property are trying to sell their properties, but they are battling,” he said.
ALSO READ: Land owners urged to maintain overgrown properties
Wessels said residents had contacted the ward councillor, but no feedback had been received.
They recently contacted the DA PR councillor Thabani Mthethwa, who got hold of the Parks Department to address the overgrowth.
“Parks came and cleared the road and poisoned the weeds on 1 February, but the property is still overgrown and needs attention,” he said.
Councillor Mthethwa confirmed that the property had been brought to his attantion and said he had visit the site twice.
He said acting on concerns raised by residents he had been in touch with metro police management to request they have regular patrols in the area to scare off criminals.
“Mr Steve Middleton who is head of metro police referred the matter to his subordinates, but frankly I’m battling to get them to act,” he said.
“In terms of cleaning, cutting the overgrown trees and grass, I have been in touch with people at parks and recreation and Garth Kloppenborg has promised that he’ll refer the matter to a unit that deals with abandoned properties. The unit is going to look for the owner of the property and get the owner to clean it. If that doesn’t happen the unit will clean the property and charge the owner on his rates bill,” he said.
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