Retirement scuppered by stench of dog poo

Reporter: Alex Carey
Date published: 24 May 2016


A MARRIED couple are having their hard-earned retirement ruined by the stench of dog muck next-door.

Derek (67) and Margaret Taylor (72), who live on Darwin Street in Clarksfield, say their lives are being spoilt by their next-door neighbours who allow their three dogs to foul in the backgarden.

Mr Taylor says the dog muck is simply left to fester in the garden in huge amounts, with the smell making its way over to his house.

Mr Taylor, a former engineer, and Mrs Taylor, a former Oldham Council employee, are retired after working hard all of their adult lives.

But they are unable to enjoy a trouble-free retirement with the stench and mess of next-door ever distressing.

Mr Taylor said: "We moved into the house last March and pretty much ever since we've been here it's been a problem. The people that live there just let the three dogs poo in the garden and then it's just left there.

"The smell is terrible, particularly when we were sat out in the garden during the summer. I also sleep in the back bedroom which means when I open my curtains that is the first thing I see every single morning. It's absolutely disgusting.

"Our cat has caught seven mice in the house since we moved in and we know that the mess next-door is attracting them.

"It is spoiling our lives. It's really upsetting. We have worked all our lives and we just want to enjoy our retirement but you can't when you live next to something like this."

To make matters worse, Mrs Taylor recently battled cancer and after chemotherapy treatment she had to return next-door to the mess and smell while she was recovering.

After Mr Taylor made a number of complaints to Oldham Council about the situation they have confirmed that they are investigating it.

An Oldham Council spokesperson said: "We are looking into it and exploring all options."

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