Forfar couple at the end of their tether with rubbish risk
A young Forfar couple say they are close to sleeping on the street rather than enduring the "nightmare" of living in a block of flats.
Katy, Rebecca and Jack Hollands with a picture on their computer of the rubbish that collects on the stairwell.
- By Graham Brown
- Published in the Courier : 01.10.10
- Published online : 01.10.10 @ 03.13pm
Katy and Mark Hollands say dumped rubbish outside their tenement door is a health hazard to their two young children and have criticised Angus Council for a lack of action over the issue, despite repeated complaints.
The couple moved into the upper-floor flat at Restenneth Drive around two years ago but said even before they had unpacked their belongings they were unhappy about bags of rubbish being dumped by neighbours on the common landing.
They moved to Forfar when former soldier Mark (24) changed careers but stay-at-home mum Katy said on Thursday that the couple were at the end of their tether over the problems of the discarded rubbish and the risk it poses to son Jack (2) and three-and-a-half month-old daughter Rebecca.
"It's disgusting, there are bags dumped regularly by a neighbour and they have broken glass and everything in them," Katy (26) said. "There's also lots of rubbish outside the close and this has been the situation on and off for two years.
"When I was pregnant I was out bleaching the close because it was so dirty with what was being put out there and my dad actually moved me out of the flat to stay with him until the baby was born."
She also endures a major effort any time she leaves the flat to go into town, such as the twice-weekly trips to Jack's playgroup.
"Because I've got two youngsters I have a double buggy and I have to take that down the stairs before going back up for Jack and then for Rebecca."
Katy added, "We've complained to the council about the mess outside the door and around the close and we've had the police up because of parties which go on in the block. I'm getting to the point where I hate it that much I just want to give it up."
A spokesman for Angus Council said the issues raised by the young couple are being investigated.
The area was part of a community initiative which spawned the Lordburn, Restenneth and Pitreuchie Action Group, which was praised at local level this week.
It has undertaken a number of schemes to build community spirit and tackle problems in area — but Katy said she was not aware of its existence.
09.43am - 02.10.2010 Concerned Citizen - Forfar, Scotland Report This
A couple of points<br />1) Forfar has next to no "tenements", flats yes, tenement blocks no. 2) Angus Council will do next to nothing, only solution is to move, either by making enough antisocial behaviour complaints that they will pass it onto community safety or private rent.
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