'I just want this land sorted out' (From Barry And District News)

'I just want this land sorted out'

AN 81-year-old pensioner is at his 'wits end' with the Vale of Glamorgan Council which he says has allowed an area of land just metres from his back door to grow into a jungle.

Fredrick Hilberg, of Kent Green, claims the area of land behind his home is council-owned, but despite making numerous requests to clean the mess up, he says the local authority has done nothing to improve the situation.

The land has become so wild it has begun to attract flytippers.

Mr Hilberg feels it is having a negative effect on the value of his home.

He told the News: "The land is so overgrown it is now encroaching on my property. They promised to sort the mess out but they haven't. It is so out of control now it is spoiling my garden; people are also starting to use the land for dumping their rubbish. I have run out of patience now so I've contacted John Smith MP in the hope that he will be able to get the council to do something.

"I moved here to retire, and in the first few years the council kept the place tidy but now it is becoming overgrown. It makes me sad and angry and I just want it sorted out."

John Smith MP, who saw the situation for himself on Friday, said: "We have a local authority with a multi-million pound turnover, but they can't get round to tidying up the overgrown jungle just yards from Mr Hilberg's home. I will be taking this matter up personally with the council."

A council spokesman said: "The council was not aware of any recent representations relating to the current state of this area but an officer paid Mr Hilberg a visit last Thursday and assured him that every effort will be made to tidy up the land in question in the next week."