Residents of Alfred Gardens in Barking have received some good news after hearing that a Closure Order served on a property, which had been a source of anti-social behaviour, has been extended for a further three months.
The Closure Order for the property at 9 Alfred Gardens was due to expire later this month but due to the coronavirus pandemic, the council has been unable to start possession proceedings and evict the tenant, in order to take back the property.
However, after the council’s legal team attended a court hearing last week (12/05/20) alongside the defending tenant, the judge ruled that the order should be extended for an extra three months.
The council hopes that the extension will give them enough time to take possession proceedings after the lockdown.
Testaments supplied by residents stating how much their lives and the environment had improved since the closure was the main part of the supporting evidence.
Margaret Mullane, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “I’m thrilled to see that the judge ruled in our favour last week and extended the closure order.
“We’re determined to give the residents of Alfred Gardens a peaceful life and the last thing they would have wanted, in the current time, would have been the tenant returning. Hopefully the extension gives us time to take property and evict the tenant for good.”