£2,670 fine for overgrown garden in Gloucester
A homeowner who let the bushes in his garden grow to 15ft tall was ordered to pay over #2,500 by a court yesterday.
Adrian Woodyatt, 44, was handed several warning notices by his local council after neighbours complained that his front and back gardens were overgrown.
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Picture of the overgrown garden
But he failed to reply to the notices and instead let his garden grow even further.
Yesterday at Gloucester Magistrates Court he was handed a £600 fine and ordered to pay £2,055 in costs after he was found guilty in his absence.
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Elaine Bell, prosecuting, told the court that Woodyatt's semi-detached house in Nine Elms Road, had been subject to several complaints.
But when officers went to investigate there was no sign on him.
Mrs Bell said: "A planning and complaints officer visited on a number of occasions after we received complaints of allegations of an overgrown garden.
"A letter was sent to him on October 10 2011 requiring him to tidy the gardens but there was no response.
"A further visit by the same officer then occurred where it was found conditions had not improved."
She said that another two letters had been sent to Woodyatt, who is believed to live in another house further up the road, but both were also met with silence.
Officers visited for a final time in June this year where it was found that conditions had still not improved and had in fact got worse.
Sentencing Woodyatt, Judge Joti Boparai said she was satisfied the house belonged to him and that the council had given him enough chances before bringing him to court.
In total he was ordered to hand over £2,670 - most of which to repay the cost of investigating him and trying to track him down.
Comments
by Lecorche
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 9:26PM
“This seems a bit much for having tall plants in a private garden.
I have a couple of roses which are over 12 feet tall and would recommend that no Council Napoleon tells me to cut them down.
There has to be more to it than TiG has shown us.”
by vienna07
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 8:58PM
“This man works full time and cares for his elderley disabled mother full time - its a shame the council can't be a little for forgiving!!!”
by cortezcortez
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 8:17PM
“Sounds like a wildlife haven to me much rather see that then some of the baron landscapes some people have”
by FreeRadical1
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 5:06PM
“Can anyone tell me what law had been broken? The article doesn't say - well done TiG. Who judges when a bush or tree is overgrown? There are plenty of trees with TPOs on them that local people would say are overgrown and a nuisance.”
by Dr_Hfrrrrr
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 1:45PM
“So this bloke gets a big fine for letting his gardens grow unkempt and yet the same judge lets off a woman who 'spent £80,000 on cats' while claiming benefit. Yeah , that sounds fair..”
by Glos_Lad34
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 12:53PM
“Should of cut the grass then and he wouldn't of got that big fine.”
by Douglasknows
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 11:25AM
“I saw that geraint but assumed that some of the costs spent on tracking him down would have been spent on searching that address as well ;o)”
by geraint2010
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 11:08AM
“Douglasknows,
According to TIG's parent paper, Mr Woodyatt lives at another address in the same road. http://tinyurl.com/8u8e9gx”
by Douglasknows
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 10:51AM
“Most of the costs went went on trying to track him down, it seems that was a waste of money. There is no mention that he has been seen so is he still alive I wonder.”
by geraint2010
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 10:09AM
“Fair enough, but why single out this chap for the treatment when there are far more unsightly gardens and scraps of wasteland around Gloucester? If I was his neighbour I'd be less concerned about the overgrown shrubbery than allowing his house, which would make a much-needed home for a family, to remain empty for so long. That is what should be a crime.”