My neighbour’s rotting property is ruining my life – it’s a filthy plague on our street but council won’t sort it out
A PENSIONER has slammed a neighbouring "eyesore" tarnishing his beloved street and says nothing has been done about it for years.
Malcolm Baxter, 79, is fuming over the shabby old pub near his home, with the Nottinghamshire man lamenting no action has been taken despite how it "plagues the entire community".
The retiree lives not far from The Old Rock in Stapleford, which formerly operated as a pub.
It was shut several years ago and has remained completely empty ever since, leading to today's scene of smashed windows and peeling paint.
Malcolm said: "It's such a big eyesore and a plague on the entire community.
"It's been in a state of disrepair for the last three or four years.
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"People break in and smash the windows. Look at the state of it. And it's nothing now compared to what it was."
Malcolm has lived on Stapleford's Church Street since the late 1990s, witnessing first hand the rise and fall of the pub.
It was called the Chequers Inn until 2016, when it adopted new title The Old Rock.
Nikita Business Solutions moved to claim the pub in 2014 and remain the current owners, according to government records.
In response to its messy state, Broxtowe Borough Council slapped them with a community protection notice (CPN), reported.
A government fact sheet says the notice exists to stop a business or organisation committing "antisocial behaviour" spoiling the community's quality of life.
That includes eyesore rubbish on private land.
If a person or business ignores the orders of a CPN, they can be prosecuted.
Nikita Business Solutions now appears locked in a legal showdown with a hearing at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on May 29 coming as Broxtowe Borough Council took action for non-compliance.
A Nottinghamshire Live account of the pub was consistent with Malcolm's angry description, reporting a pile of rubbish, broken wooden furniture, plastic and waste, with the windows boarded up.
Nikita Business Solutions is a familiar company around town.
"It's such a big eyesore and a plague on the entire community
Malcolm Baxter
According to government records, the business launched in 2014 and formerly ran a post office.
A spokesperson for Broxtowe Borough Council said: “The council have issued legal proceedings against Nikita Business Solutions Limited for non-compliance of a Community Protection Notice.
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"As these legal proceedings are still on-going the council are unable to comment on this any further."
Nikita Business Solutions was contacted for comment.
Failing that, you can report them to your local council.
It's important to keep records of an ongoing problem, the national charity advises.
This means writing down as much details as possible - dates, times and what happened - as well collecting evidence, for example taking photos of rubbish dumped on your lawn.
You could seek a mediator to help resolve any dispute. Citizens Advice says the local council may assist with this, and you can on gov.uk, although you may have to pay for one.
It's also recommended to figure out whether your neighbour's behaviour could be categorised as "anti social".
They are considered anti social if they :
- make a lot of noise
- dump rubbish
- write graffiti
- have a dog that barks a lot or causes trouble
- use your garden without permission
- harass you because of religion, race, sex, disability or another characteristic
In this case, report it to your local council. If the council fails to act, you can go to either the housing or local government ombudsman, or contact Citizens Advice for help.