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Man given Asbo for rubbish in garden

Thursday, 9 July 2009

An east Belfast man has defended himself for keeping rubbish in his garden after his habit landed him with an Asbo from Belfast City Council.

Brendan Ross (50) from Dunraven Crescent said he was implementing the council’s own “reduce, recycle, reuse” slogan as he cycled around to salvage items left discarded at recycling centres and rubbish tips across the city.

For about five years he has been putting items, from food to bric-a-brac — including a statue of Oliver Hardy — in the small front garden of the terraced house.

He said he was a victim of council policy.

“They might as well put a ball and chain and a Guantanamo Bay suit on me,” he claimed.

And he hit out at the legal system which made it possible for him to be issued with an Anti-Social Behaviour Order. “It was like a kangaroo court,” he said.

There are several bunches of flowers and shrubs in the garden. “I thought the council’s policy was to be green”, said Mr Ross, who lives in the house with his brother William.

But Mr Ross’s neighbour Steven Harvey said Belfast City Council was right to take action.

“I think it is necessary. It’s very difficult to live next door to. Brendan is a nice guy but you can’t expect people to live next door to rubbish.”

He said rubbish had been piled six foot high before much of it had been removed.

Belfast City Council said Mr Ross has already been issued with an interim Asbo for collecting rubbish, which he picked up while travelling around on a bike.

A spokeswoman said: “The Asbo was obtained following a conviction on June 2, after Mr Ross failed to comply with a previous court order to remove items from his garden, including discarded food that was becoming a public health hazard.

“Mr Ross was fined £500 and the council was awarded costs of £69 on that date.”

The two-year Asbo prevents Mr Ross “storing items or materials in a way that is prejudicial to public heath or otherwise so as to cause alarm, harassment or distress to others”.

He is also barred from collecting rubbish from private skips, bins and civil amenity sites, and can only have two bicycles in his possession.

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Well, rubbish either goes to the landfill or bins, skips etc. Why not salvage all that is salvageable?
Does this mean i can't get bits of wood from a skip? I think this article highlights the need to be more "green" this mans front yard is what WE throw out and never have to look at - many of us create messes but we simply put it in the landfill or leave it for our childrens children to inherit - a lesson can be learnt here - look closely and you can see a hint of our bigger problem!

Posted by shane neary | 11.07.09, 14:02 GMT

As a neighbour of Mr Ross I can state that the only victims in this piece are those who have had to put up with the mess at the front, side and rear of his premises. 80 cubic metres of rubbish was removed in May of this year. The smell is unbearable at times, and the rubbish was a very real danger to public health, not to mention that the rubbish posed a serious fire hazard (as was realised in September 2005, which caused considerable damage to my home). I am delighted that the action was taken.

Posted by Michael Bennett | 10.07.09, 08:30 GMT

John - you said it!

Posted by Andrew | 10.07.09, 01:11 GMT

Leave Benny alone, he is a living legend, and a pleasant and friendly one at that!!!

Posted by TJ | 09.07.09, 21:47 GMT

“They might as well put a ball and chain and a Guantanamo Bay suit on me,” Really?

"He said rubbish had been piled six foot high before much of it had been removed" Did you ever see that episode of The Simpsons where Homer was rude to the refuse staff and they in turn refused to collect his rubbish, to the point where is was reaching up to the upstairs windows? Such a funny episode, and anyone who models themselves on Homer J Simpson is alright in my book!

Posted by Disenchanted Youth | 09.07.09, 16:17 GMT

Seems a harmless enough guy compared to some of the mentalists in this country!

Posted by I hate spides | 09.07.09, 12:20 GMT

Will they be handing out asbos to the people who collect wood and other garbage for two months of the year and pile it high before setting fire to it for the 12th of July and leaving the place like a bombed out wasteland?

Posted by John | 09.07.09, 11:59 GMT