Madderty 'filth' OAP faces eviction

Apr 29 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A PENSIONER guilty of staging a filthy campaign against the local authority yesterday claimed council officials have forced his eviction for a second time.

Peter Roy, who lives in a static caravan at Madderty’s Craigmuir Farm with frail wife Catherine (81), has been informed his family must vacate the site within the next five weeks after being unable to pay costs related to a dirty protest, which began a decade ago.

The 73-year-old former pig farmer gained notoriety after dumping oil barrels full of human excrement by the roadside in protest at Perth and Kinross Council’s decision to evict his family from their former home at Bairds View in the village in 1999.

According to Mr Roy, a £7000 fine – issued to the family following the prolonged campaign – has soared to approximately £20,000 due to escalating legal costs.

The PA has learned, in an attempt to recover the costs, the land and condemned house at Craigmuir have been removed from Mr Roy’s possession.

Speaking exclusively to the PA, Mr Roy alleged PKC officials have plotted against him to remove him from the area.

“I point the finger at the council,” he said yesterday.

“I think I’ve been treated very badly. This is another property of mine they are stealing – after all, the last one was virtually stolen.

“They’ve been trying to bankrupt me for years, it’s extortion. They will only be happy when I’m evicted again.

“They are forcing us out of our home for the second time. I would say someone at the top of the tree at Perth and Kinross Council has got it in for me.

“We are pensioners, why can’t they just leave us in peace? It is harassment, there is no question about that.”

Mr Roy and his wife were forced to move to the site after a bid to purchase their council home at Bairds View was refused in 1999 and the couple were subsequently evicted for abandonment.

The condemned house on the site at one time housed Mr Roy’s pigs, while the couple settled in their static caravan within the grounds of the property.

Four other family members, who live in four separate caravans at the farm, have also been ordered off the land.

Several court cases have stemmed from the lengthy feud, with the last seeing Mr Roy jailed for 28 days after refusing to pay a £900 penalty for breaching an Anti Social Behaviour Order.

Following the latest revelation, Mr Roy has added more fuel to the fire, claiming he will not comply with the eviction notice.

He also admitted he will refuse any approach by council chiefs offering him alternative accommodation.

He added: “I spent 16 years in Bairds View but we were put out for abandonment, I was quite happy there.

“They (PKC) put us here and they should leave us here. I won’t leave voluntarily.

“According to the lawyer, we have four or five weeks before we are evicted and I don’t know what’ll happen.

“I’ll end up at the side of the road I think. I’m not accepting another house off them because I’m frightened over what has happened in the past and I’ve told them that.

“I’ve not declared myself homeless, they’ve done that for me.”

In response to Mr Roy’s allegations, a spokesman for PKC yesterday issued a strongly-worded response.

He said: “The council does not comment on individual cases, but it is untrue to say that we have an agenda against any individuals.

“Perth and Kinross residents deserve to live in an area free from anti-social behaviour and environmental health hazards.

“The council has a duty to act when such issues arise, and to recover the costs to the taxpayer incurred in the process.”