A Fife resident is rejoicing at the news her bins have been emptied for the first time in more than a year.
Council bin men finally removed piles of household rubbish and more than 50 bin bags that had mounted up over the months at a home in Methilhill, just 24 hours after Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist QC’s court ruling ordered them to be given access to the festering waste.
The legal decision ends a 12-month domestic dispute which has left Evelyn Grieve having to pile high her weekly waste at her Broomfield home because a neighbour Anna Beveridge allegedly repeatedly refused to unlock a shared gate to the property.
Mrs Grieve said she was relieved the nightmare was finally over.
She said: “While I’m obviously pleased by the ruling, it really should never have needed to go through the courts just to get access to get my bins collected and the decision is a bitter-sweet one.
“I’ve lived here for the past 40 years and until a year ago had friendly relations with my neighbour for 12 years.
“But this escalated out of control and I’ve had to use three separate solicitors and spent several thousand pounds just to get the gate unlocked. It’s pathetic that it had to come to that.”
Mrs Grieve said the problem became unbearable her family during the summer months because of the smell of the rotting rubbish during the hot weather.
“It got to the point where it was impossible to sit out in the garden.
“Even my grandchildren didn’t want to visit because because they couldn’t play in the garden because of the waste.”
Mrs Beveridge was unavailable for comment following the writ issued against her.
SNP Councillor John O’Brian, who represents the Buckhaven, Methil and Wemyss Villages, said he was disappointed the dispute had needed to go to court but was glad the issue could be finally resolved.
He said: “Everyone is entitled to have their bins emptied yet having to fight for a year for that right is completely unacceptable.
“Having met with both residents in a bid to find an amicable solution without success it’s pleasing to see that justice has finally been served.
“I’ve served as a councillor in this constituency for the past 10 years and never come across a neighbour dispute quite like this.
“It should never have had to be taken through the courts but it has and I’m pleased council staff can finally do their job and collect the bins as they do for every other resident.”
