Local residents whose street is being blighted by an “eyesore” empty home have told their local councillor they want the Council to be doing more to get this sort of property tidied up and back in use.

Lib Dem (pictured) has been working on behalf of the residents to get the owner to tidy the front garden and drive which is wildly overgrown and affecting neighbouring house prices.

Cllr Burke has been told that the Council has written to the owner to inform them of the complaints and to explain what help is on offer to get the property back on the market. But based on his experience of when this has happened in relation to other private properties in his ward, Cllr Burke is not expecting a quick turn around.

Cllr Burke said:

“I entirely agree with the local residents when they say that the Council should do more to get properties like this, which have stood empty for an age and are running wild, tidied up and back on the market.

“At present the Council’s approach is to send the owner a letter and to be honest when residents say to me that it won’t work and it’s not good enough they’re right. Some home owners will react and take up the offer of help but for real problem properties it is not enough. The letters go ignored and nothing else happens. And the Council can’t march on to the land and cut it back as there is no “risk” to people’s safety. There are other powers which some of our neighbouring councils use but Kirklees doesn’t. Kirklees Cabinet’s would rather leave residents and council services fighting a futile battle. People are rightly asking why we’re such a soft touch.”