Filthy flat to be cleaned up
Last updated at 16:24, Tuesday, 13 July 2010
A MASSIVE clean-up operation by a Life of Grime-style crew is underway after squatters wrecked a flat and left a rotting mess.
Half-eaten takeaways, empty booze bottles and cans, smashed glasses, blood-stained cushions and about 30 bags of rubbish were strewn around the living room of 103a Market Street.
Wallpaper had been ripped off all the walls of the upstairs flat, there were faeces on the floor and a toilet bowl had been ripped out and dumped in the hallway full of litter.
Yesterday, a Dalton police officer, a Barrow Borough Council health boss, pest control and cleaners went into the property to assess the situation.
The Evening Mail was invited to witness the extent of the damage.
A concerned resident tipped off the police after a series of wild parties took place, with beer cans being hurled out of the windows.
The resident also said he also put a recent rat problem down to the state of the flat.
The council has tried to contact the landlord but to no avail.
Joan Carroll, senior enforcement officer with Barrow Borough Council’s environmental health department, said the council served an abatement notice last Tuesday.
The owner was given five days to remove the rubbish but failed to do so.
A specialist cleaning contractor was set to go in today to empty the flat.
The bill for the clean-up operation, which could run into hundreds of pounds, will have to be paid by the flat’s owner, if he or she is ever found.
The concerned resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “There were some problems with the previous tenants but we got them out about six or seven months ago.
“It all went back to being quiet and then suddenly it all went wrong again.
“About 10 days ago I was away and on my return I could hear a lot of noise.
“Then, the following day on the Saturday the noise started about 4pm and carried on until 7am the following morning.
“There was loud music, shouting, dogs barking and cans being thrown out of the windows.
“I then went to Dalton police station and they contacted the council. People (police officers and council staff) have been to the door six or seven times but they (the tenants) just turned off the lights or ran out the back and over the fence.
“I’m just glad it’s finally been sorted out.”
Mrs Carroll said: “’The inside of the flat was pretty grotty with food waste and faeces and there were indications of the beginnings of a fly infestation.
“At this time of year, unless it is addressed, that could quickly turn into a problem for nearby residents.
“Our contractor will nip this in the bud when she carries out the work today.
“Thankfully, the type of occupants who leave a mess like this are few and far between.
“Unfortunately, if they end up living next to you one day they could have a devastating impact on your life, but there are measures that can be used against them.”
First published at 13:04, Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
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âUnfortunately, if they end up living next to you one day they could have a devastating impact on your life, but there are measures that can be used against them.â
Vermin like this would be treated as such. They would be begging to move out within a couple of hours.
Posted by Neil on 13 July 2010 at 14:59