Highland Council slammed for 'health risk' garden
Douglas Williamson (35) suffers from several conditions including multiple sclerosis, brittle bone disease and depression.
His neighbour’s hedge has grown wild, pushing holes in the fence of his council property on Dunain Road and allowing one of his two dogs to escape.
The dog, Bob, has still not returned almost two months later, and Mr Williamson now fears it has been stolen or killed.
He insisted that the council has an obligation to replace the fence – and revealed his garden has not been tended to for months.
“I’ve had to put old furniture along the length of the garden to make it impossible for my other dog Bizzle to get out,” he said.
“The council sent a man round to look at the garden and he said it was going to cost me £200.
“I couldn’t believe it because the council are supposed to look after my garden. That’s money I just don’t have.
“The garden is such a bad health risk. I have had ticks on my body and I am terrified I am going to get Lyme disease.
“With the other health problems I have, that would probably kill me.”
A council spokeswoman said: “While we cannot comment on individual tenants’ circumstances we can confirm that all Highland Council tenants are responsible for carrying out repairs to dividing fences between gardens.”
