Once 'magnificent' house is being reclaimed by nature as neighbours complain
A DESERTED house engulfed by overgrown trees and weeds has been branded "ghastly" and "disgusting".
Neighbours said the bungalow, on Grosvenor Road in Crownhill, had been left to self-destruct.
The property was once "magnificent" according to one resident but its demise began more than 30 years ago.
Land Registry deeds state the property is valued at £100,000 and the owner did live in the bungalow until around 18 months ago.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
One neighbour said: "When the council went in there were newspapers just stacked from the floors to the ceiling."
Until approximately two years ago the house was covered in bright green ivy – much less of an eye sore than its current state.
Another resident of Grosvenor Road said the house was "disgusting".
A third neighbour added: "It was a beautiful house in the early 80s, a piece of magnificence and immaculate.
"But since 1982 – to the best of my knowledge – nothing has been done and the property has gradually deteriorated.
"There's been rats near enough constantly for the last 25 years and at one stage there were badgers too.
"It's just dreadful.Why should we have to put up with it?
"It needs knocking down and rebuilding.
"I don't think the council knows what to do with it."
The resident believed the owner moved away 18 months ago.
A government crackdown on empty and derelict homes is set to come into force – which could affect the owners of properties such as this.
The move means second homeowners and landlords who do not rent out their properties and those which blight neighbourhoods are to be hit with council tax rises.
Alison Seabeck, Labour MP for Plymouth Moor View, said she came across the bungalow earlier this year and described it as "ghastly".
She added: "Concerns have been raised to me about this property. It is an extreme example of the problem we are talking about."
A council spokeswoman said: "This is a complex case. We have been in touch with the owner and action has been taken in the past to clear up the property."
The Herald was unable to make contact with the owner.
Comments
by Red_Diesel
Friday, June 01 2012, 11:37PM
“You might not believe this but my girlfriend's house looks a little like this, but with some rusty corrrugated iron cladding as well.
Preserve it!”
by Red_Diesel
Friday, June 01 2012, 11:31PM
“This is one of those wonderful interwar bungalows "Homes for heroes" back from WW1.
It should be Grade 2 listed. Ad then under listing, it, in its splended decay, can't be changed.
I love it!”
by cashlift
Friday, June 01 2012, 4:58PM
“We have a house in our street , and the landlord lets it out to students , with the councils blessing”
by Bob_Wickerman
Friday, June 01 2012, 3:05PM
“..a neighbour said 'There's been rats near enough constantly for the last 25 years and at one stage there were badgers too'..
Badgers eat rats so they probably regarded the place as a free supermarket and kept nipping down to help themselves ..:)”
by Tamrinbay
Friday, June 01 2012, 2:41PM
“100's of squatters across the South West are rubbing their hands at the thought of taking this house over ! Thanks for the info Evening Herald ! :)”
by jannersontour
Friday, June 01 2012, 1:46PM
“Looks rather interesting, its only a little green.
Makes u think we are not here long and how the planet would be without us.
Certainly no PCC. money hunting in economic woes.”
by wakeymike
Friday, June 01 2012, 1:07PM
“Mmmm I thought it was going to be Saltram house or the like !!”
by Jannercide
Friday, June 01 2012, 10:13AM
“"This property was once magnificent"
Steady on luv, it's a bloody bungalow!”
by Nikgee
Friday, June 01 2012, 10:09AM
“I'd take it for 50p a week and get it habitable again. As long as I get the materials and equipment free to do the work.
No house should be allowed to go to rack and ruin.
Perhaps the council should compulsory purchase the property and employ youngsters to renovate the property and gardens teaching them new skills and giving them some hope for the future”
by 2ladybugs
Friday, June 01 2012, 9:26AM
“"It needs knocking down and re-building"
Be careful what you wish for. If the bungalow is situated on a decent sized plot of land they might just decide to allow more than one building on it and not necessarily a bungalow!!:((”