Harriett Baldwin, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for West Worcestershire, has today helped Rushwick residents Mr and Mrs Smith of Whitehall Close Rushwick tackle problems with a neighbour's empty home by contacting Malvern Hills District Council.
A bungalow at 3, Whitehall Close, Rushwick has been left empty for about 10 years since the previous resident, widow Violet Jones died. The previous owner's car has been left unused on the driveway for as many years. The property passed to a relative, Barbara Coles. Over the years, the property has become an overgrown eyesore and is now causing blocked drains which caused a neighbour some expense as well as vermin in neighbouring properties.
Harriett Baldwin said, "Near neighbours in Whitehall Close, Graham and Susan Smith brought this problem to my attention. I appreciate that the bungalow is privately owned, but surely it cannot be right that a perfectly good home in a prominent position in a lovely village can be left untouched for a decade, when there is a shortage of homes. It is an environmental health problem. It must reduce the value of neighbouring homes and is causing physical problems like blocked drains and rats.
I have written to council leader Phil Grove asking Malvern Hills District Council to take action."
Photo: From L to R, Justin Miles of Bransford Road, Rushwick and Graham and Susan Smith of Whitehall Close Rushwick.