Reclusive Hunstanton home-owner Sharon Cochrane says her junkyard front garden is ‘no-one else’s business’
A reclusive home-owner ordered to clean up her “junkyard” front garden has insisted the mess is “no-one else's business”.
Sharon Cochrane, 66, spoke out after neighbours complained about the “eyesore tip” in front of her Hunstanton home and West Norfolk Council officials issued her with an order to remove it.
The garden in front of the £250,000 bungalow is piled high with rubbish.
Broken furniture, household appliances and bags of rubbish have been stacked up in front of the bungalow for months.
Mrs Cochrane said: "The world is going to hell in a handbasket and people care so much about my furniture on my own drive.
"I don't understand why people are so concerned."
Ms Cochrane was wearing yellow wellington boots and a striped t-shirt as she began moving bags of rubbish around outside her home on Tuesday afternoon.
A Tesco trolley with recent food shopping sat outside the drive with Chestnut mushrooms dated April 30 and Tesco Finest Anchovies baking in the sun.
A white Nissan which was reportedly hit just a few weeks ago is parked by the kerb, with its front left bumper hanging on and a human-sized stuffed toy in the passenger seat.
Mrs Cochrane added: "Does it look like I'm living my best life?
"I'm getting support but I'm a very private person and I don't want to talk about my medical history to strangers."
Neighbours say the eyesore blights their homes in the cul-de-sac of neat bungalows near the seafront and is attracting vermin.
Tammy Edmunds, who lives on Chatsworth Road, said: "How can the law of the land let someone live in such squalor and filth?
"I appreciate there are laws and regulations but some people seem to live above them.
"The street has been suffering with this on and off for ten years and in the last five weeks it’s gotten worse.
"It's a fire hazard and risk of health and safety. We've heard of rats from there spreading across to other properties which has meant pest control have had to come out.
"The notice only concerns the front and side of the house - there's even more in the back garden."
Another neighbour said: "It stinks, there are rats and it's dangerous.
"There are children walking past and it could fall onto the pavement at any time, and then there's the fire risk.
"It lowers the tone of the whole street. If people want to sell their houses it's going to lower the price."
If Ms Cochrane does not appeal the council notice by May 20, she then has seven days to comply.
If she does not do so, the borough council could carry out the work and then try to recover its costs.
The property was pristine in a photograph taken from Google in 2009, with a well-tended garden.
By 2023, rubbish had started to accumulate around the house and the pile has grown since then.
One close neighbour who did not want to be named said: "She left another property on York Avenue after it was repossessed and the council put all her stuff there.
"She's got a dog and six cats - we called the RSPCA as they were living in squalor but as far as we know they're still there now.
"Nine years ago there was a fire and it caught onto our roof.
"We've seen there's even more in the garden, tyres, cast iron - it would come up to your knees.
"That's where the rats are.
"The car out the front got hit three weeks ago. The DVLA don't want to know."
Another neighbour of Chatsworth Road added: "I'd like to throw a molotov cocktail on it.
"People have tried to get lots of different agencies involved but nothing seems to happen.
"We only occasionally see her walk past to Tesco with a shopping trolley.
"This is a quiet, peaceful road and it's a shame."
A borough council spokesman said: "We are aware of the issues raised and continue to work with all parties."
