Residents hit out at hoarder's victory in court
Villagers have slammed a judge's decision to allow a hoarder to keep storing rubbish on his land.
Richard Wallace, 59, of number 4 and 8 Furlong Road, won an appeal at Guildford Crown Court on Monday February 15 against Mole Valley District Council's demand that his property be cleared of piles of rubbish.
The rubbish includes food waste containers, cars, newspapers and building materials.
Although the decision has been celebrated by Mr Wallace, some villagers have been appalled at the news.
Cllr James Friend, (Westcott, Con) said: "I feel this is clearly a miscarriage of justice where a single resident has managed to portray himself as hard done-by from his local council, whereas the reality is the opposite where the system has let down the majority.
"I am up in arms at the decision. I believe planning and local environmental law have let down the local residents of Furlong Road, that health and amenity are at risk."
Mike Wood, 45, a resident of Furlong Road, believes that the wrong decision was made at court.
He said: "You can definitely see the rubbish, it is quite visible from the road."
Another resident, who has lived in nearby Watson Road for nine years and did not wish to be named, said: "The judge decided it wasn't detrimental to the residents but I don't share that point of view.
"In the summer we have seen rats coming out of there and the smell is quite appalling and it has been festering there, some of it for 30 years.
"It is one man's hobby and the whole village has to put up with it. We find it quite unfair."
A spokesman for Mole Valley District Council said it had not yet taken a decision on any further action against Mr Wallace.
6 Comments
by Annie, Westcott
Thursday, March 04 2010, 4:45PM
“Ok so if what he's doing doesn't bother some if the readers who think Mr Wallace is being unfairly treated, let's all dump our rubbish in our front and back gardens 6 ft high for 30 years and let's see how they would like that. If the judge lived next door to this filth tip himself, he would have ruled differently !”
by Gazza, Dorking
Wednesday, March 03 2010, 6:50PM
“Rubbish attracts vermin and the site should be cleared.
Who knows what is under all of that junk could be, dusting up asbestos, fridges losing gas to the atmosphere,
old tins of goodness knows what fluids leaching away into the soil.”
by Alex, Surrey
Tuesday, March 02 2010, 10:56AM
“Ha ha it seems things have gone the other way. Even reading an article in the Daily Mail online over the weekend it seems the support is for Mr Wallace. Not quite what the council had hoped for..
Reading the comments on here, it seems Mr Wallace is not offending the locals and people that should be "up in arms" are actually being very fair and sensible about the whole thing.
People of Westcott - I salute you. It seems as though you are thinking for yourselves rather than jumping on the bandwagon. Hat's off.”
by Andy, Westcott
Tuesday, March 02 2010, 9:00AM
“Like Anne, I also live in Westcott and walk past Mr Wallace's houses every day. I have never noticed a smell or unbagged food waste and have no problem with a man who keeps timber, rubble, paper and cars on his own property. Sure, the QC was incorrect - it is all easily visible from the road - but it poses no inconvenience or problem. As for rats, I see them regularly in the village... but then we do have a brook running through it and Mr Wallace is not alone in having them frequent his garden!
Perhaps the residents who are in opposition to Mr Wallace could form a committee to erect a gated wooden fence around his property - I'm sure that they'd get council permission in no time...”
by Joanna Cox, Walton on Thames
Monday, March 01 2010, 9:58PM
“This country is mad. There should be standards of cleanliness and tidiness, for everyone to abide by - like there are in Germany and the Scandinavian countries. Even if, as this man claims, he leaves no food waste - vermin will always rapidly accumulate among piles of undisturbed rubbish and are bound to constitute a health hazard that probably already menaces the well-being of every man, woman and child in this selfish resident's neighbourhood.
As for the judge - he should be forced to spend a fortnight in a house right next door...!!!”
by Anne, Westcott
Monday, March 01 2010, 3:35PM
“I think this demonisation of Mr Wallace is getting out of hand. Yes, it is an eyesore, but there is no food waste and it is a gross exaggeration to say it smells. I walk past there all the time and have never noticed a smell. This morning lots of photographers were there, and this afternoon Phil Tufnell from BBC's The One Show is filming there and interviewing local people and Mr Wallace, so Mr Wallace is becoming quite the celebrity - not quite the outcome the council is seeking.”