The new owner of a 'disgusting' building in Lenton with rubbish piled in the garden has assured residents it will be cleared within weeks. The property, situated on the corner of Lenton Boulevard and Derby Road, is littered with items such as chairs, drawers, carpets and sinks.
It is thought to have been derelict for the last 10 to 15 years, with residents describing the waste as an "eyesore" and saying they had experienced problems with rats as a result. Nottingham City Council previously said it had taken enforcement action.
However, its new owner, Michael Cao, said the rubbish would disappear within "two or three weeks". Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live, the 34-year-old, who runs the Viet 80s restaurant near Nottingham Castle, said he had already filled three lorries with the rubbish.
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Explaining why he bought the property he said: "I bought it a few weeks ago, it's big land - 400 square metres - I don't think you can find anything like that this close to the city centre. It was cheaper than normal." Mr Cao, who currently lives in Mansfield, said he hopes the house will be completely restored in one year.
"I don't know whether I'll live in it or rent it out," he added. "If we can get it to look like these other houses then why not?" The presence of the waste, which Mr Cao is gradually transferring into skips, has been criticised by residents.
Chris Lancaster, a student who lives nearby, described it as a "fat eyesore". "Hopefully it will be used and converted, but the amount of waste is disgraceful", he said. "I notice a lot of trucks going in and out".
The 20-year-old, originally from Coventry, said it had got worse since he moved in in September. Another student, Alex Barron, added: "It doesn't look great, it looks disgusting."
Isobel Copson, another student who lives close to the building, said she was "quite happy" to see it had been bought. The 22-year-old from Leicester said that prior to the brambles being cleared, rats had climbed up from the derelict property and gnawed through her bins.
"I had a really big rat problem, I had to bang on the bin every time I brought something out," she said. "I thought it was being cleared. I've seen a skip out there for the last few weeks but it still absolutely stinks."
