A disabled man has said “enough is enough” over the poor behaviour of his neighbours in council housing in Reading.
A disabled man in Reading has had enough of his neighbours’ disruptive behaviour. John Tweed, 49, lives in a bungalow in Cresswell Close, Whitley Wood, where he claims his neighbours have violated their council tenancy by using their garden for tyre storage, running a business, and creating a hazardous environment.
Mr Tweed, who has multiple disabilities, expressed his frustrations after noticing rubbish bags piling up and loud music blaring at night following his complaints. He shared photos of tyres in the garden, overflowing bins, and blocked access to his driveway.
Feeling scared for his safety, Mr Tweed has installed motion sensors and a doorbell camera, opting to sleep on his sofa instead of his bed to avoid potential break-ins. "I only get two to three hours of sleep a night because of the noise," he said. "I can’t relax until I know they’re all home and settled down."
In a bid to resolve these issues, he sought mediation from the council and Thames Valley Police, resulting in a community protection order issued to the neighbours on September 2. Despite previous warnings, Mr Tweed claims the family has breached their tenancy agreement multiple times.
Addressing the council, he questioned, "At what point are you actually going to enforce the tenancy warning notice?" He believes no one, especially those with disabilities, should live under such conditions.
In response, a council spokesperson acknowledged Mr Tweed's distress, stating they are in constant contact with him and taking appropriate action. They suggested he apply for a road marking to prevent vehicles from blocking his driveway and mentioned that a housing officer had previously addressed the rubbish issue. They also encouraged Mr Tweed to use a Noise app to report disturbances.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
