AN ASBESTOS-ridden and fire-ravaged house has sat abandoned and dilapidated in the middle of Manilla for at least six years.
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Reportedly packed full of drug-taking paraphernalia, neighbours have slammed the slow-moving process to tear down the single-storey house.
They say it’s an eyesore and that it’s dangerous. The burnt-out house on Northbrook Lane has sat idle since fire reduced it to a house of horrors six years ago, according to neighbours.
They say the house has become a danger to local children who play in the abandoned property, and that it’s “a haven for vermin” and an idyllic hide-out for squatters.
It’s a fight they say has been mounting for years.
After The Leader revealed in August ratepayers could have to foot the bill to for the demolition of the house following years of complaints from angry neighbours, Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) has finally taken action.
Councillors will consider in a behind-closed-doors session on Tuesday night a proposal to knock the house down.
Council confirmed in August that it had made attempts to contact the owner for at least 18 months.
The council issued a notice of intention to the owner, who no longer lives in the region, and gave them until October to respond.
TRC has made the decision to listen to ratepayers’ concerns and forge ahead with plans to demolish it.
General manager Paul Bennett told The Leader that it was in the interest of the community to act now, rather than wait any longer for a response from the owner.
Just how much it will cost ratepayers is yet to be known, but TRC will endeavour to recover costs from the owners by selling the land.
Councils have powers to order the demolition of buildings if there are public health and safety issues. TRC must be applauded for finally taking action on the eyesore, rather than waiting any longer.
Decisions like this can put councils in a tough situation – they’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t.
Some ratepayers will no doubt kick up a stink for having to foot the bill to demolish the house, but what’s the alternative?
Surely getting rid of a dangerous eyesore – with fairly substantial health risks – should be a priority.
Commonsense has finally prevailed.
