Row over fortnightly collections goes to court
By admin on Sep 30, 2007 in Household Waste, Featured, Environment, News, Home & Garden
Dr Frances Kennett, a 62 year old fundraiser for the University of Oxford, has been taken to court by her local council due to a row over fortnightly rubbish collections. Dr Kennett had refused to pay one month’s council tax after claiming that the change to fortnightly rubbish collections in her area had resulted in a rat infestation in her home.
District Judge Brian Loosley ruled that although he was obliged by law to impose a liability order on her for the amount she owes to Oxford City Council, there was a direct link between the rats and the councils fortnightly collection policy. He said:
“I have every sympathy with her with regard to the rat infestation she has, which appears to be caused by the council’s decision to move to fortnightly waste collections.”
Judge Loosley went on to say:
“…in the circumstances I consider it wrong for me to award any costs against Dr Kennett and, although I have no powers in the matter, I would hope that the city council, and particularly the environmental health department, would contact Dr Kennett to discuss her problem before taking any further enforcement action.”
Considering it a moral victory over her local council, Dr Kennett argued that the council is failing to maintain standards that ensure public health and cleanliness, and as a result of this her neighbourhood has become infested with rats, reducing the resale value of her home.
