Dad's fight against maggot infestation advances

Residents living in apartment blocks which have become a hotbed for maggots during the summer months have been promised help by councillors.

Maggots and flies are a persistent problem in the bin stores of a number of buildings in Runnymede Borough Council's Addlestone One development project, residents say.

Jon Joyce, a leaseholder in Dunsfold House who lives with his wife and 14-month-old baby daughter, said maggots crawled under the bin room door and out into the main foyer.

A council spokesperson told BBC Radio Surrey it had responded to residents and was "dealing" with the matters they had raised. It did not respond when asked what action it was taking.

A meeting between residents and councillors was held at the weekend after leaseholders threatened to "escalate the problem further" if the council failed to act by 7 September.

"It's just rancid, to be honest, you step through and hear these popping noises on the floor and you know instantly it's the maggots you've just stepped on," said Joyce.

"You'll be treading them into your hallway and possibly into your flat."

Following press coverage of the formal complaint, Councillor Scott Kelly met with people living in Addlestone One on Saturday and committed to pushing for improvement.

Kelly said he felt sorry for the leaseholders, who pay a service charge each month but have been living with the maggot problem for around five years.

He says he is supporting residents and the BBC understands he is also trying to arrange a meeting with MP Ben Spencer.

Resident Robert Vilkelis said he felt optimistic after the meeting.

"The key is communication, and recognising that we should not all be fighting on different fronts," he said.

"I'm definitely happy with the response we received from the councillors...it's deeply regretful that we had to lean so much on the press to make this happen."

A council spokesperson said: "Runnymede Borough Council Services Ltd, which is a separate legal entity to the council, have responded to the Dunsfold House residents directly as part of the formal complaints process, and the matters raised are being dealt with."

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