A dispute over a 97-year-old lady feeding birds in her again backyard has escalated with the ‘bullying’ council now threatening a £2,500 high quality and even court docket motion to pressure her and her son out of their privately-owned home.
Retired music instructor Anne Seago enjoys the straightforward pleasure of watching from her conservatory as sparrows and robins feed off seeds on her chook desk.
A grievance from a neighbour that she was attracting pigeons and seagulls prompted the council to subject a ‘written warning’ final November and threaten a £100 high quality if the ‘anti-social behaviour’ does not stop.
Now, amid claims the birds are nonetheless being fed, Fylde Council has issued her son Alan, 77, who lives along with her, with one other written warning. This time he’s being threatened with a Community Protection Notice (CPN) and a possible high quality of £2,500 for ‘non-compliance’ if the ‘anti-social behaviour’ does not cease instantly.
Retired music instructor Anne Seago (proper) enjoys the straightforward pleasure of watching from her conservatory as sparrows and robins feed off seeds on her chook desk. Pictured along with her son Alan, 77
An indication that reads ‘Grand reopening quickly! All birds welcome.’ Mr Seago, a retired automotive salesman, stated the latest threats had been inflicting his mom ‘extra stress’ and there have been issues for her well being because of this
Anne’s again backyard. In an additional menace the council’s environmental well being division has warned it may take authorized motion for a ‘Civil Injunction and/or a Premises Closure Order’, that if granted by magistrates may finally pressure them out of their home
The most recent letter from the council, shared with Anne on 22 March 2024. It states that she is being ‘unreasonable’ and he or she is having a ‘detrimental impact on residents and their properties’
A grievance from a neighbour that she was attracting pigeons and seagulls prompted the council to subject a ‘written warning’ final November (above) and threaten a £100 high quality if the ‘anti-social behaviour’ does not stop
And in an additional menace the council’s environmental well being division has warned it may take authorized motion for a ‘Civil Injunction and/or a Premises Closure Order’, that if granted by magistrates may finally pressure them out of their home in Staining, close to Blackpool, for as much as three months.
Mr Seago, a retired automotive salesman, stated the latest threats had been inflicting his mom ‘extra stress’ and there have been issues for her well being because of this.
Commenting on the council’s strategy, he stated: ‘It’s disgusting, it is ridiculous and past perception. My mum is simply surprised and may’t imagine that is occurring.’
He stated the money to pay such a big high quality ‘may very well be discovered if obligatory, however not willingly.’
When two council officers visited the property every week in the past to ship the written warning headed ‘Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014,’ she turned tearful and instructed them ‘it is all I’ve obtained, I won’t be right here subsequent yr.’
The latest discover states ‘your behaviour is unreasonable and is having a detrimental impact on residents and their properties.’
It requires Mr Seago, and presumably his mom, to ‘not place giant quantities of chook feed’ on a chook desk to ‘entice giant flocks of pigeons,’ not throw chook feed on to the bottom, not throw chook feed on the roof and never throw chook feed outdoors the property.
It additionally bans any contact with the subsequent door neighbour who made the grievance – Darren Horne – and warns Mr Seago to not ‘trigger harassment, alarm or misery.’
Failure to conform may result in a CPN and ‘legal sanctions,’ the council has warned.
The officers even instructed the Seagos to take down the ‘I like’ birds discover on their window (above) in case it upset the neighbour
When two council officers visited the property every week in the past to ship the written warning headed ‘Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014,’ she turned tearful and instructed them ‘it is all I’ve obtained, I won’t be right here subsequent yr.’ Pictured the window Anne watches the chook’s from
Anne’s home. Now, amid claims the birds are nonetheless being fed, Fylde Council has issued a warning of a Community Protection Notice (CPN) and a possible high quality of £2,500
Anne’s neighbours Cath Wright and Ian Wright (left), pictured with Anne and her son Alan
The officers even instructed the Seagos to take down the ‘I like’ birds discover on their window in case it upset the neighbour.
Hanging chook feeders for small wild birds are allowed they usually have put out one feeder for the birds – which pigeons are additionally feeding off.
Mrs Seago and her son claimed Mr Horne, who’s in his 50s, has repeatedly blasted out punk music and banged his wheelie bin lid to harass them. Mr Horne has beforehand stated he banged the lid to scare birds away and he’s not the one resident to complain.
Commenting on the dispute, Mr Seago stated: ‘We are stressed with it now, it is gone on for years.’
Another neighbour Ian Wright, 67, who has additionally obtained a council warning letter, has accused the council of ‘bullying an elderly girl’.
He has lodged an official grievance towards the actions of Fylde Council with the native authorities Ombudsman and has been knowledgeable that the matter is being investigated.
Mr Wright stated his official warning additionally threatened a £2,500 high quality and a Premises Closure Order. ‘It’s fairly worrying actually that strange residents are being threatened on this method,’ he stated. Councillors have been invited to see what is going on for themselves, however none have accepted, he stated.
The flock of pigeons on the centre of the dispute are stated to have been deserted within the space by a resident who moved to Spain and launched them to fend for themselves.
Closure orders might be sought at a magistrates’ court docket when there was ‘critical nuisance to members of the general public’ from a premises. It can ban access to the complete building for as much as three months at a time.
Fylde Council has been unavailable for remark.