Plumstead landlord told to clean up pigeon infested house

BY CALUM FRASER
calum@slpmedia.co.uk­

A landlord has been charged by town hall chiefs for allowing a house to become infested with pigeons.

Greenwich council has told the Plumstead landlord, who repeatedly ignored demands to properly maintain his premises, to clean up – or face court proceedings.

Council officers repeatedly visited 64 Plumstead High Street and told its owner to make improvements to the state of the property.

The owner did carry out some remedial works, but they have not gone far enough and are still in breach of planning control.

The premises has wooden boards on the windows and has become infested with pigeons.

The notice states that the landowner must take down the wooden hoardings on the windows and replace them with glazing, permanently rid the entire property of the pigeon infestation and clean the pigeon droppings from the exterior of the building, the public highway and street furniture close to the property.

Councillor Jackie Smith, cabinet member for community safety and integrated enforcement, said: “This property has become a real eyesore and is extremely distressing for residents and businesses nearby.

“We always try to work with owners to resolve any issues relating to their property, but in this instance the owners repeatedly ignored warnings from our officers about the state of the premises.

If a landowner wilfully disregards their obligations to uphold standards we will use the full force of the law against them.”

Once the notice has been served, the owner has one month to comply.

If they do not the council will serve a summons for the charges at magistrates’ court.