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25
Nov
Disabled Harrogate woman's battle to get council to clear 'waist-high' weeds
A disabled Harrogate woman has been left with an overgrown garden for three years, despite multiple attempts to get the council to clear it.
Catherine Bradwell moved into her bungalow on Roberts Crescent in 2021.
At the time, the council had removed flagging in the back garden. But over the last three years this had been left to overgrow, leaving Ms Bradwell with no outdoor space.
The 52-year-old said she contacted North Yorkshire Council on several occasions to clear the space.
The council pledged to visit the property in May and September this year, but this never happened.
Ms Bradwell, who has no use of her left arm and has limited mobility in her left leg due to an accident eight years ago, said:
I have been trying for over three years to try and get this little garden back into a usable state for a person who is disabled and has limited mobility.
Ms Bradwell has since taken the matter to Tom Gordon, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.
She added:
So the third summer closed and I have not been able to use the garden, which is now very overgrown and a waist-high mass of weeds.
The Stray Ferret has approached North Yorkshire Council to ask for an explanation as to why the garden has not been cleared in three years.
In response, Andrew Rowe, the council's assistant director for housing, said:
We have carried out a number of inspections at this premises over a period of time and agreed that we will tidy up the garden.
We are pleased to say we’ve agreed with the tenant that this is likely to happen over the next week, with plans also put in place around future maintenance.
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