Residents are up in arms over a neglected home on Caerau Road in Maesteg that’s been an eyesore for years. This once-thriving property, last home to an official tenant over a decade ago, now stands abandoned, attracting squatters and antisocial behaviour. Infamous for its filthy and derelict state, one local even claims there’s a packet of diced beef that’s been rotting for years!
Eighty-six-year-old Janet Roberts, who lives next door, is worried about how it affects her home’s value, especially as youths are constantly breaking in, apparently hunting for ghosts! “What happens when I die and my kids try to sell this place?” she wonders.
The absentee landlord, Andrew Spencer Thomas, was hit with a whopping £5,950 fine by Bridgend council but hasn’t engaged with the court case. The council’s been chasing Thomas for ages to fix the mess, even offering to buy the house, but he’s ignored their attempts.
Susan Hopkins has lived across the road for 52 years and voiced concerns about young people’s difficulty in getting on the property ladder while homes like this lie empty. “It’s derelict in there,” she said, pointing out past incidents involving drug activities.
The local council is considering taking strong action, given the high council tax premiums on empty properties, which could climb up to 300%.
Ellie Baskerville, a nearby 27-year-old student, believes that neglected homes link to increased crime and thinks a community skate park could keep local kids out of trouble.
Thomas claims to be “horrified” by these revelations and blames third-party management. With residents eagerly awaiting action, only time will tell if there’ll be an improvement at 134 Caerau Road.