Formal action is to be taken to clear up what is arguably Helston’s most unsightly house, after the town council heard it was likely to be culpable in the event of any disaster there or at any other properties that had been drawn to their attention.

It follows a long debate last month over the state of a house on the junction of Trengrouse Way with Beacon Parc, which is almost entirely obstructed by overgrowth and rubbish piled high in the garden.

The matter was raised by councillor Rev Danny Reed, who stressed that he did not want a “witch hunt” but questioned whether something could be done.

At the most recent meeting, last week, he went on to say that a report of vermin on the property had been logged and his main concern was for the neighbours, particularly in the other side of the semi-detached property, not only regarding the smell but also: “The probability that if anything was to go wrong in that property, the whole property would suffer, is immense.”

He said he had also been informed the man living in the house had another property in Porthleven, which was in the same state.

The serious nature of what was at hand was really highlighted, however, by new council member Miles Kenchington, who works as an officer at Cornwall Council, when he warned that the council had “responsibility for right of life for other people living in the other houses.”

Making reference to another house just a few doors away, that fellow councillor Ronnie Williams said appeared to have been "just left" around two and a half years ago, he explained: “If the abandoned house was set on fire and someone was killed next door, we would have culpability on that incident.

“As councillors we have a responsibility now we’re aware of it. We can’t just ignore it.”

After hearing this all but councillor Ronnie Williams voted in favour of asking Cornwall Council to put an action notice in place on the rubbish-filled house, which would force the occupier to clear the property within a certain time.

If this did not happen, Cornwall Council would then have the power to pay someone to carry out the work for them and charge the bill to the occupier. If they were unable to pay, it would then become a land charge on the property and be passed on with any future sale of the house.

However, it is still up to Cornwall Council to decide whether to enforce such a notice.

Members also wanted more information on the second house that had been referred to by Mr Williams before any action was taken there. 

A decision over the original house had been deferred from last month after members heard from Mr Williams that there might be an alternative solution, which he was unable to elaborate further on at that time.

Last week Mr Williams claimed that “a lot of progress has been made” but he did not want to divulge anything more and asked for another deferral, but this was not something the other members agreed with.