I HAVE passed by the derelict house, 91 Charlton Road, several times a week for many years.

I have witnessed the repeated boarding up of windows and the clearing of undergrowth. In 2012 there was a statement from David Adkins, a resident of Charlton in the article ‘Pushing for action over town’s empty properties’(Advertiser , 21 December 2012), that he had been in contact with TVBC for more than three years but did not get any resolution and they stopped responding to his questions. At that time TVBC’s environmental health department stated it had been necessary to clear undergrowth at the property and that their legal department would look to recover costs for the work from the owner.

In the “Derelict house” letter from Erica Tinsley (Letters 4 May) she wrote that see had tried to find out what TVBC were doing about the situation in 2014 and 2015.

This included a specific question to Councillor Hawke to ask what costs TVBC had incurred over the years on the property and had they been recovered. Once again there appears no reply was forthcoming.

I recently contacted my local councillors Borg-Neal, Hamilton and Page together with the Housing and Environmental Portfolio Holder Councillor Bundy to ask the same questions regarding recovery of costs and if the Empty Homes Premium for Council Tax has been applied to the property.

Cllr Hamilton responded to me very quickly which I greatly appreciated. She confirmed to me that someone recently had gained access to the property again. TVBC secured it and had subsequently met with the owner to try to resolve the issue.

I asked again regarding the recovery of costs incurred over the last 20-plus years and the Council Tax Empty House Premium. The response I obtained was: ‘The latest update is: The Council has been aware of the property for some time and we are reviewing the situation in terms of what could be done to bring the property back into use. The owner is engaging with the Council and we continue to work with them. It is with our legal team, and we cannot discuss updates in reference to this house, until investigated in full’.

Strangely I thought I had heard that before and then I remembered it was reading the Andover Advertiser in 2012 and again in the last few weeks that another resident had got the same response in 2015. At least I know where my council tax is being spent.

Sadly our elected councillors appear to be powerless.

My experience over the last few years has shown that TVBC will spend infinite time assisting those that breach procedures. It seems a common approach whether planning, housing or environmental health. I fear I know who are picking up the costs.

Keith Wigmore, Mylen Road, Andover