A local business has pleaded guilty in court after ignoring requests from Barking and Dagenham Council enforcement officers to clear up their land.

Following a complaint, officers visited the land at 174 Ripple Road Barking on Tuesday 28 February 2023 and found it to be overgrown, strewn with fly-tipped waste and a nesting ground for pests and vermin.

Following Land Registry checks, officers issued a warning letter to the freeholders of the land, City Heights One Limited asking them to remove any fly-tipped waste within seven days. This was ignored.

The company was later taken to court after they failed to respond and act on a Formal Legal Notice from the council, issued on Thursday 4 May 2023, to cultivate the land and remove all fly-tipped waste.

The businesses pleaded guilty at Barkingside Magistrates Court on 21 November 2023 and were ordered to pay a fine of £1,000, costs to Barking and Dagenham Council of £591 and a Victim Surcharge of £1,000, totalling £2,591.

Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “The business was given adequate opportunity and sufficient time to clear up their land, but completely ignored requests and formal notices to the council”.

“The land was detrimental to the local community and a complete eyesore. Because they ignored the initial warning letter, they’ve now got to pay a huge fine.”

Residents can report eyesore gardens to the council on the council website: www.lbbd.gov.uk/community-safety-and-crime/make-report/report-untidy-eyesore-garden