A MOUNTAIN of rotting rubbish has been left festering in a communal garden for five weeks after a suspected arson attack.

The rubbish in the garden of a block of flats in Sheepscombe Drive in Warndon, Worcester lay undisturbed for five weeks outside the home of a disabled woman with asthma after an upstairs flat was gutted in a devastating fire.

Worcester News: PRIDE: Anj Grey and other tenants at Sheepscombe Drive have made an effort to enhance the communal garden which had been blighted by the fire-damaged rubbish which has since been cleared by Platform Housing PRIDE: Anj Grey and other tenants at Sheepscombe Drive have made an effort to enhance the communal garden which had been blighted by the fire-damaged rubbish which has since been cleared by Platform Housing (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

We previously reported how police arrested a 51-year-old woman on suspicion of causing arson with intent to endanger life after the severe fire broke out in a first-floor flat at around 4am on Monday, July 31.

Despite complaints from residents about the rubbish, the mess was only cleared on Friday (September 8) - the day the Worcester News contacted landlord Platform Housing on behalf of residents.

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Anj Grey, 47, says she and other tenants have tried their best to make the communal garden look nice with flowers and painted benches and ornaments.

Worcester News: FLATS: Sheepscombe Drive in Warndon, Worcester where the fire happened FLATS: Sheepscombe Drive in Warndon, Worcester where the fire happened (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Miss Grey said: "I just wanted the rubbish moved as soon as possible but it seemed like Platform were passing the buck.

"I had been in touch with them four times, speaking to a housing officer in person and by email. 

"We try and keep the garden really, really nice.

"We all muck in to make the communal garden a nice place and a nice environment."

Worcester News: EFFORT: The garden at Sheepscombe Drive which has been enhanced by residents EFFORT: The garden at Sheepscombe Drive which has been enhanced by residents (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Painting two of the communal benches purple herself, she says she has been working on the garden since she moved into the block in October 2021.

She believes since tenants made an effort to improve the garden, more are coming out of their flats to socialise and it has improved mental health - but the rubbish had set that back.

Shesaid tenants pay a £6 a week maintenance charge on top of the rent.

Gill Mason, 56, is disabled, autistic, has asthma and lived right opposite the rubbish on the ground floor which had been a few feet from her doorstep.

Miss Mason said: "It's a burden and an eyesore. I'm sick and tired of it.

"I don't want to come outside. Anything can get in there - rats or anything. They can't even mow the lawn because of it."

Warndon city councillor Jill Desayrah said: "This is an extraordinary dereliction of duty on the part of Platform Housing.

"It was a horrible pile of rubbish. It's not right. These women live here, looking after the garden beautifully and they don't deserve to have this left with them for so long."

Lisa Fairlie, director of Housing Operations at Platform Housing Group said: "We are sorry to hear of our customer's concerns regarding the rubbish at Sheepscombe Drive; we can now confirm that it has been removed."