Preston residents demand council tames out-of-control ivy

The greenery has engulfed the front of an empty house in Wellfield Terrace, Preston, and is now blighting nearby properties.

Neighbour Mildred Fazakerley said: “It’s unbelievable, it’s everywhere. It’s taking over the empty house and people are worried about it spreading to their properties.”

“We keep our house in order, but now we’ve got this coming over an asbestos garage roof at the back.

“It’s blocking light off people, I really don’t know how people in Spa Road are putting up with it.”

Mrs Fazakerley, who works with autistic children, has asked Preston Council to act, but claims she has had no joy.

She said: “They told me they don’t have a gardening service and can’t do anything.

“Well I’m 80 and my husband’s 87, and there’s no chance I’m going up on a roof to sort it out.”

A Preston Council spokesperson insisted it is acting on the matter, with its Empty Homes Team having traced the owner and officers “actively working towards bringing the property back into use as a home.”

They added: “The significantly overgrown ivy at the rear of this and several other properties has been identified within this work, and our team is currently exploring all the options available to them to get the overgrowth removed at the earliest opportunity, including possible enforcement action.”