Bolton homeowner who left their garden in a mess for months is ordered to pay thousands

A homeowner who left glass, fence panels and plastic in their garden and ignored council demands to clean up their land  has been ordered to pay thousands of pounds. Gilgal Investments Limited, the owner of a house on Plodder Lane, was issued with a Section 215 notice by Bolton Council in December 2021.

The notice required the business to remove discarded wood, plastic, glass, and other materials from the property, as well as cutting back the overgrown front garden. It also ordered the removal of trees and bushes from the back garden.

After Gilgal Investments Limited failed to comply with the notice, the case was heard at Wigan Magistrates’ Court last month. The court heard the house was vacant and Bolton Council provided photo evidence of how the poor state of the property was impacting the surrounding neighbourhood.

In the defendant’s absence, magistrates imposed a fine of £1,000 alongside £1,103.65 in costs and a £100 victim surcharge. Under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, local authorities can issue a Section 215 Notice to owners and occupiers when an area is ‘adversely affected by the condition of land’.

Failing to comply with a notice is a summary offence and can result in a maximum fine of £2,500 upon conviction.

Bolton Council’s executive cabinet member for strategic housing and planning, Coun Toby Hewitt, said: “This property was left in an unacceptable state, and this can have a negative impact on nearby homes and businesses.

“The council will not hesitate to use our enforcement powers to force owners to act when their properties fall below a reasonable standard. This case sends a clear message that those who fail to co-operate with the council could face a conviction and a significant financial penalty.”