How to persuade a builder to clean up his site?

[stuartmc]

Hi Folks,

I'd appreciate any advice on this one...

A builder owns a site bordering our housing scheme. He sought planning permission for 4 houses. Permission was granted for 2 houses on half the site. The other 2 houses were refused - after the neighbours in our scheme got together to object.

The non-developed half of his sight was an over-grown dump. At an RA meeting, I was asked to contact him and ask that the site be cleaned up. I asked and he agreed!

He cleared out the trees and rubbish and knocked an old block shed. However, he has left a lot of rubble on the site, building material, wooden beams and plastic pipes. He has also left a ditch/trench around the site, which may be unsafe. The site is not fenced off - it is totally open, unsafe and a terrible eyesore.

I have spoken to the builder several times to ask him to clean the site up and he's fobbing me off - he says he doesn't know what the future holds for the site and therefore does not want to do anything.

So far, I have been quite pleasant but my patience is wearing thin as my neighbours are expecting me to sort it out.

I'm not sure what, if anything, I can do to force the issue with the builder. Any ideas?

Cheers.

 

[ClubMan]

my neighbours are expecting me to sort it out.

Why? Because you initially asked and were proactive in chasing it up? Maybe they also need to start pulling their weight in relation to this matter?

I'm not sure what, if anything, I can do to force the issue with the builder. Any ideas?

[broken link removed]

Litter and private property

The owner or occupier of property that can be seen from a public place, is also obliged to keep the property free of litter. This means that any outdoor area on your property visible from a public place must be kept free of litter. Failure to keep your property free of litter can result in a fine or prosecution by your local authority.

...



Illegal dumping

The litter laws have increased the powers of your local authority to combat the problem of illegal dumping of refuse and rubbish. If you see someone dumping illegally, you should report the matter to your local authority who will investigate and take any necessary enforcement action.


Alternatively you can report illegal dumping to a 24 hour lo-call telephone number 1850 365 121. Local authorities, the Environmental Protection Agency and an Garda Síochána will follow up on the information given as appropriate. Information that you give can be treated confidentially although you are encouraged to give your contact details as authorities may wish to follow- up with you in relation to the investigation of illegal dumping.


If your local authority finds material that is illegally dumped and establishes the identity of the owner of the material, that person will have a case to answer without necessarily having to be caught in the act. In addition, extra powers are also available to your local authority to require a householder or business operator to indicate how and where they are disposing of their waste. This is particularly relevant if the householder or business owner is not availing of a refuse collection service or is not bringing their waste to an authorised disposal facility.

There are also extensive laws on the health and safety aspects of building sites that may be relevant. The HSA may be able to advise.

 

[polly2000]

Try derelict sites department with your local county council. We had a similar problem in our private housing estate but not sure if your builder has walked away from the site or is still there.
Either way talk to derelict sites who will advise you
P

 

[seapoint]

Go in to the council offices, speak to whoever deals with retention bonds. get them to make a call to the builder/developer. Should work a treat.

 

[ontour]

The trench is most likely to protect against unwanted camping.

I think that if the site is safe, then there would not be an onus on the owner to lanscape it for the aesthetic benefnit of a neighbouring development.

 

[stuartmc]

Thank you all for your advice. I will try each of these angles.

Apparently, an associate of the builder told my neighbour that planning has been granted for him to build on the part of the site that is currently unsafe/ugly. There hasn't been any notice of a planning application though, so I'd guess this is a continuation of the bull I've been fed.

Cheers.