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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Sam Elliott-Gibbs

Overgrown 'jungle' house that posties were forced to avoid finally trimmed back

Residents have finally been able to convince a neighbour to allow them to control his 'jungle' front garden which has blighted an entire street for over a decade.

It was so overgrown with vegetation that the shrubs, trees, and vines “forced” locals to build a new wall.

The property in Ramsgate, Kent, went viral after photos of the drastically overgrown greenery had taken over the entire terraced home.

Branches and vines were tangled around a van and a boat dumped outside and there was so much green that you couldn't see the house. Even the postie refused to deliver letters, locals said.

The wild garden was strangling the property and the council said last week there is nothing they can do.

Work on the out-of-control garden is now under-way (google street view)

But order is now being restored - and some of mountains of shrubbery have been stripped away.

Neighbours have taken action to help the unidentified homeowner and they got down to work.

After reports it has been out of control for over 10 years, the home had a much-needed makeover last weekend.

Now, the front door can be reached at least with nearly half the "jungle" removed.

Now you can see the front door - and the postie can consider returning (UkNewsinPictures)

The van is suddenly in full view and two massive trees have already been uprooted.

One frustrated neighbour told The Sun that were forced to take action themselves after Thanet District Council reportedly struggled to engage with the owner.

"The locals are aware of it, the PCSOs and the fire brigade have been round a few times," they said. "I don't understand how there is no responsibility for it. You have people walking up and down picking up litter.

The property was covered in crawling greenery but residents decided to take action (UkNewsinPictures)

"I'm left thinking seriously what is the point of that when you have this there. It isn't as bad as it was; it has been cut down a bit. But the front is completely overgrown."

Another neighbour called Ted said the owner gave up trying to get in and out via the front of the property.

He said: "I just sometimes see him to say hello to. He gets in and out over the back.

"He is very nice, but a bit secluded really. The house is definitely lived in. He doesn't do a lot with it though. He leaves us alone so we leave him alone."

Neighbours spent last weekend taking the first steps to clearing the garden (UkNewsinPictures)

A friend of the homeowner stuck up for him saying they were a “lovely man” who did “a lot for charity”.

The local authority had previously stated an inspection of the property was to take place, and they would determined if there were grounds for legal enforcement.

They said: “A council inspector will be visiting the property to assess the current position and to determine whether we have recourse to any legal enforcement.

"Our primary aim will be to bring the property back into residential use, it could provide a much needed home in this time of ever growing housing needs.”

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