Tidy up your gardens, councillor tells street (From Gazette)
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Tidy up your gardens, councillor tells street
12:00pm Friday 9th September 2011 in News
Martin Goss looks for overgrown front gardens, armed with a letter urging householders to tidy them up
A COUNCILLOR is calling on residents to clean up their front gardens, saying they’re a bloomin’ mess.
Martin Goss, Colchester councillor for Mile End ward, has been so incensed by the untamed flora in Hakewill Way that he has posted letters to residents telling them they are letting their neighbours down.
Mr Goss, whose front garden is pictured below, asked the residents to cut their grass and tidy up their territory.
The green-fingered Lib Dem said the problem seemed to be at rented houses.
He said: “I am getting more complaints about people at private rented accommodation not maintaining their gardens.
“There are a number of properties I have had to write to reminding them to keep their front gardens in order.
“They are letting them become wildly overgrown.”
Mr Goss was told by one landlord action could only be taken with the tenant’s consent, as they would have to foot the bill.
He said some tenants had cut back their front gardens since he sent the letters, but added: “Some haven’t bothered and I shouldn’t have to tell them to do it.
“It is beyond the call of duty as a councillor, but I also have to be innovative.”
People living in the area said it was a thorny issue. Marina deSmith, a homeowner in nearby Bardsley Close, said: “It lowers the tone when a garden is knee-deep in weeds, it doesn’t look very nice.
“Up the road from here you have got one house that has a front garden full of flowers and next door, slap bang next to it, is full of weeds.”
Mrs deSmith said she even did some weeding on the front gardens of empty properties herself.
She added: “If you don’t want to maintain your garden, make it low maintenance. Put a suppressing membrane down and then you don’t need to cut the lawn every week.”
Another homeowner in Hakewill Way, who declined to be named, added: “Generally, the ones that are tidy and looked after tend to be owner-occupied and the ones that are a mess are the rented ones.”
But another homeowner in Hutley Drive said Mr Goss should mind his own business. They said: “If someone has got a battered old car sitting in their garden and it is an eyesore, fair enough.
“I have got a few nettles, but it is not the end of the world and it is not going to devalue the house. Mr Goss has got no right telling people what they can and can’t do with their garden. There isn’t a garden on the estate that is absolutely ridiculous.”
Comments(28)
Boris
says...
1:57pm Fri 9 Sep 11
cavillas
says...
3:04pm Fri 9 Sep 11
micksmercs wrote:Since when has common decency had anything to do with gardening? What next people being forced to keep their vehicles spotless because they might lower the tone of the neighbourhood, or perhaps have to put net curtains up so everything looks symmetrical. As I said live and let live, people have the right to live their lives as they see fit so long as they don't infringe on others human rights.
cavillas wrote:It has nothing to do with being a snob. It is common decency to keep your garden tidy. It surely cannot take long to look after a tiny gardens like these. It is a case of pure laziness by people in general.
Load of snobs, live and let live, stop interfering with others lives.
romantic
says...
4:18pm Fri 9 Sep 11
Disley Titchbender
says...
4:42pm Fri 9 Sep 11
romantic wrote:Hahahaha......you should take a look at some of the front garden wall nature reserves in Winnock Road. All of these unkempt looking properties are rented, whilst the owner occupiers and non transient tenants are very tidy.
It's all a bit Stepford Wives, isn't it? Don't see what the problem is, unless plants are blocking pathways. Not everybody has the same idea of what constitutes a "nice" garden. Little bits of wilderness are havens for insects and perhaps a bit more natural than a neatly trimmed area sprayed regularly with chemicals. Neighbours need to talk to each other if they have a problem - most people are not as scary as imagined! But just because one person likes nature neat and tidy doesn't mean everybody else does.
There is nothing wrong with upholding tidyness and displaying a pride in your neighbourhood is there?
Disley Titchbender
says...
4:55pm Fri 9 Sep 11
Disley Titchbender wrote:I should have said "All of these unkempt looking properties are rented by short term tenants, whilst the owner occupiers and non transient tenants are very tidy".
romantic wrote: It's all a bit Stepford Wives, isn't it? Don't see what the problem is, unless plants are blocking pathways. Not everybody has the same idea of what constitutes a "nice" garden. Little bits of wilderness are havens for insects and perhaps a bit more natural than a neatly trimmed area sprayed regularly with chemicals. Neighbours need to talk to each other if they have a problem - most people are not as scary as imagined! But just because one person likes nature neat and tidy doesn't mean everybody else does.Hahahaha......you should take a look at some of the front garden wall nature reserves in Winnock Road. All of these unkempt looking properties are rented, whilst the owner occupiers and non transient tenants are very tidy. There is nothing wrong with upholding tidyness and displaying a pride in your neighbourhood is there?
Truffle45
says...
6:04pm Fri 9 Sep 11
pingu
says...
8:14pm Fri 9 Sep 11
cavillas
says...
8:26pm Fri 9 Sep 11
Truffle45 wrote:I'm glad I don't live in your little "perfect" world with social police and everyone having to look the same, act the same and keep all their gardens identical. No imagination or freedom in your world is there?
It is what us 'decent' people do, Cavillas. We keep our gardens tidy, we care about our community and where we live. We take care of our children, we do not use foul language in the streets, we wash our cars and yes we have decent blinds/curtains in our windows. So if you don't want to be classified as an 'indecent' individual then I suggest you start making things symmetrical in your world! Otherwise just go and live somewhere else.
This country has always been made up of individuals, personal choice and eccentricities. This country is not a plastic, perfect model of sanitised civilization. Symmetry is not a requirement of living together in harmony but accepting one another's individual life choices is.
crum
says...
12:35am Sat 10 Sep 11
My neighbour who owns his house is a different matter, he can not cut his grass due to the rubbish he is collecting.
Mr Goss get it right it is not private landlords and their tennents only!!!!!!
crum
says...
12:36am Sat 10 Sep 11
My neighbour who owns his house is a different matter, he can not cut his grass due to the rubbish he is collecting.
Mr Goss get it right it is not private landlords and their tennents only!!!!!!
wellnow
says...
11:03am Sat 10 Sep 11
worldofagentsmith
says...
3:15pm Sat 10 Sep 11
One man's weed os another man's work of unspeakable beauty. One man's 'day of revelation' or 'dark night of the soul' is another man's 'oh well... time to cut the grass...' the day a councillor has the right to publish crass judgemental edicts about which of the above individuals is 'correct' or 'acceptable' is the day we need to be extremely aware that the fascists did, in fact, 'win' the 'war' (whatever that means). A final comment: what the hell is a 'suppressing membrane'? I've noticed more people concreting over their lawns. Big mistake. water is wasted costing the area millions of pounds. Rain water evaporates of the concrete tiles instead of getting down into the water table to replenish our resources. Even the most wild and natural of front gardens that some may consider ''untamed", are collecting rain water and developing healthy soil (unlike constantly mowed and pesticide ridden lawns). But there is a deeper problem here in this insidious article. That is the snobbery of the 'owners' against the 'renters'. People. Get over yourselves. You cannot take it with you. Whatever you believe you 'have'... you don't. Why not focus in on your own oiece of heaevn. If you're lucky enough to have a graden / outdoor space you are wealthy beyond measure compared to most of the people on this mis-managed, starving, brutalised planet.
worldofagentsmith
says...
3:16pm Sat 10 Sep 11
One man's weed os another man's work of unspeakable beauty. One man's 'day of revelation' or 'dark night of the soul' is another man's 'oh well... time to cut the grass...' the day a councillor has the right to publish crass judgemental edicts about which of the above individuals is 'correct' or 'acceptable' is the day we need to be extremely aware that the fascists did, in fact, 'win' the 'war' (whatever that means). A final comment: what the hell is a 'suppressing membrane'? I've noticed more people concreting over their lawns. Big mistake. water is wasted costing the area millions of pounds. Rain water evaporates of the concrete tiles instead of getting down into the water table to replenish our resources. Even the most wild and natural of front gardens that some may consider ''untamed", are collecting rain water and developing healthy soil (unlike constantly mowed and pesticide ridden lawns). But there is a deeper problem here in this insidious article. That is the snobbery of the 'owners' against the 'renters'. People. Get over yourselves. You cannot take it with you. Whatever you believe you 'have'... you don't. Why not focus in on your own oiece of heaevn. If you're lucky enough to have a graden / outdoor space you are wealthy beyond measure compared to most of the people on this mis-managed, starving, brutalised planet.
worldofagentsmith
says...
3:34pm Sat 10 Sep 11
Pink62
says...
6:01pm Sat 10 Sep 11
Perhaps those that think it's all right for people to exercise their will by not giving a toss then perhaps you'd like to give them your address so they can move in next to YOU.
As of for the people that don't look after their gardens (whether you're a tenant or landlord or owner occupier) - take a bit of pride in things - YOU know who you are Hakewill Way residents (near the Oaks Hospital pathway).
SOMETHING2SAY
says...
2:32pm Sun 11 Sep 11
wellnow
says...
4:20pm Sun 11 Sep 11
5665
says...
5:34pm Sun 11 Sep 11
FrancesIndia
says...
10:24pm Sun 11 Sep 11
There are too many people who complain about the streets not being clean or towns and houses not being looked after properly yet I could practically put money on it that those people are the same people who are too lazy to even tidy their gardens and expect the government too. It doesn't take a lot and I don't see why there should even be a reason for people to have to ask others to tidy their garden.
The home owners should have a bit of decency and do it for others in the street and the towns.
Ritchie_Hicks
says...
8:24am Mon 12 Sep 11
Having said that, I would object to a local councillor telling me to do it. What I do with my property is none of his business whether he likes it or not!
Town8
says...
10:58am Mon 12 Sep 11
RobWalker
says...
3:21pm Mon 12 Sep 11
catflap1
says...
4:06pm Mon 12 Sep 11
NewTownOldie
says...
6:28pm Mon 12 Sep 11
I love my neighbours - some of you, it seems, would not. Their garden is 'membraned' and yet covered in weeds (and probably the cat excrement that the obligatory shingle/stones attract!). They are decent humans with a strong caring nature who work all the hours to pay their high rental costs and would not walk by on the otherside.
crum
says...
1:16am Wed 14 Sep 11
NewTownOldie wrote:Sorry NewTownOldie
Time, ability and a judgemental nature do not make you a decent human. I love my neighbours - some of you, it seems, would not. Their garden is 'membraned' and yet covered in weeds (and probably the cat excrement that the obligatory shingle/stones attract!). They are decent humans with a strong caring nature who work all the hours to pay their high rental costs and would not walk by on the otherside.
I love my neighbour but not his rubbish (he owns his house), there is no weed control or shingle/stones here just than piles of rubbish! I can be bothered to dig my flower beds therefore I get the deposits from cats, not him as cats love the easy option.
It is noted that you say "They are decent humans with a strong caring nature who work all the hours"
I am a landlord and regarding my tennent (who is excellent) agree with you but please tell me why I leave work before him and return after him but that you accuse me of high rental rents, my rent HAS NOT BEEN RAISED FOR 8 (YES 8 YEARS) during the rental period I have had two tennents, the second excellent but the first resulting in me paying approx 3K caused by damage caused be her and the other members of her family who (outside the contract) moved into my property running a business from said property, my deposit was £600 hey when the cow moved out It cost me 3K to repair the damage - please tell me how this cow is a decent human human being!
The present tennent keeps the garden in excellent condition but had to overcome Essex Police calling to arrest the daughter of the previous tennant.
Cleggeron
says...
2:50pm Thu 15 Sep 11
People have a perfect right not to care about these things, but that doesn't make them right to act to the detriment of their community. There's nothing "Stepford Wives" about keeping things looking reasonably tidy... but of course, the s** you, I'll do what I want brigade wouldn't agree.
In Germany, I believe it's a resident's responsibility to keep the pavement outside their property swept. In the autumn, as you drive through towns and villages, it's a very common sight to see people out sweeping up the leaves. Result? Tidy, clean streets.
Can't see what's wrong with that.
Cleggeron
says...
3:00pm Thu 15 Sep 11
People have a perfect right not to care about these things, but that doesn't make them right to act to the detriment of their community. There's nothing "Stepford Wives" about keeping things looking reasonably tidy... but of course, the s** you, I'll do what I want brigade wouldn't agree.
In Germany, I believe it's a resident's responsibility to keep the pavement outside their property swept. In the autumn, as you drive through towns and villages, it's a very common sight to see people out sweeping up the leaves. Result? Tidy, clean streets.
Can't see what's wrong with that.
cavillas says...
12:52pm Fri 9 Sep 11