Housing body criticised over fence problem

Housing body criticised over fence problem

1 August 2012 - by Joanne Fleming

A NEWCASTLE man has criticised the Housing Executive for failing to help an elderly woman maintain an overgrown fence bordering her garden.

Eddie Brannigan said he spent several back breaking hours this week removing thick ivy from the fence at his elderly relative’s house in Corrigs Avenue.

He said the fence, which backs on to the main road, was laced with thick foliage, a matter of feet from the woman’s back door.

Having cut such a large collection of foliage, Mr. Brannigan said he phoned the Housing Executive for help in removing it as he did not have the necessary transport, but was told it was not their responsibility.

He then tried Down Council, who advised him to use the brown bin, but Mr. Brannigan said the sheer volume and thickness of the stalks made this impossible.

“It has not been maintained and when I went round on Thursday I had to bring a hatchet and saw, I did not realise how difficult it was going to be,” he said.

“You get these leaflets through the door from them saying ‘how can we help’, but this is what you get. I do not think it is good enough.”

Mr. Brannigan said he contacted local councillor Willie Clarke for help, and praised him for his prompt response.

“He came round in five minutes after I explained the situation,” he said. “He brought a van so we could load it and take it round to the civic amenity site. We are totally indebted to him.

“This is a senior citizen involved here, and one who is disabled. This was not good enough from the Housing Executive.”

A spokesman for the Housing Executive said: “Tenants are advised at the outset of their tenancy that they have certain responsibilities, one of which is the maintenance of their own garden.”