Last autumn I was contacted by a local resident about the ‘over the top’ boarding up of a house off Forest Road, no. 3 Chestnut Close. Along with the poor state of its back garden and fencing, this does nothing for the appearance of the neighbourhood.  Since then, I have been in touch with Mendip District Council officers and other councillors, and Lambeth’s officers and councillors many times on this issue, to try and ensure that the house is re-occupied as soon as possible.  To update local residents I have written a letter to people living in the surrounding streets, and there is an article in this week’s Frome Times – see http://www.frometimes.co.uk/blog/?p=1412#more-1412  

After initially raising this with Mendip’s housing and environmental health officers last autumn, it quickly became clear that the delays in getting the property occupied once again were because the house is owned by the London Borough of Lambeth.  Lambeth intended to sell the properties on either privately or to a local housing association, but this was taking time to arrange.

Last month, as still nothing seemed to be happening, I contacted Mendip’s officers again, and found out that Mendip’s officers were waiting to their calls to be returned.  So I contacted Lambeth Council’s councillor responsible for housing, who reminded her officers to make progress to either sell the house or re-let it to new tenants.  Just last week, I also brought this to the attention of Mendip District Council’s Chief Executive who agreed that action was needed and to contact his opposite number at Lambeth if things did not move on quickly.

Just a few days ago, I heard from Lambeth’s Assistant Director for Housing, and the news is that Lambeth intend to sell the house, along with their other vacant property in this area, at auction in March.  Lambeth and Mendip officers are also now talking to each other about all the other houses that Lambeth currently own in the area. So I hope this has helped resolve the matter and that both houses will be reoccupied shortly by new owners or tenants.