Mayya Kostyuk, 67, of Bishopstone, Hereford, was found guilty at Hereford Magistrates’ Court on Monday 5 October of breaching a Community Protection Notice relating to a park home at Victoria Park, Crowmoor Lane, Tillington.

The court heard that Ms Kostyuk had owned the park home for around 15 years but had never lived in it. Over time, its condition had deteriorated significantly, leading to repeated complaints from residents at the site.

One resident told the court that the park home had become a “complete eyesore” and a “blight on the otherwise tranquil site of Victoria Park” and raised concerns about the deteriorating structure and the potential risk to animals and wildlife.

Following attempts to resolve the issue, Herefordshire Council issued Ms Kostyuk with a Community Protection Warning on 8 September 2025.

This required her either to have the park home assessed by a suitably qualified surveyor and carry out agreed works to bring it up to an acceptable standard, or to remove and dispose of it within a specified timescale.

After these requirements were not met, the council served a Community Protection Notice on 17 October 2025, setting out further deadlines for action.

The court also heard that Ms Kostyuk had bought the park home for around £700 in 2011 and had subsequently sought a payment of £7,000 from the park owner to remove it.

The requirements of the Community Protection Notice were not met and magistrates found Ms Kostyuk guilty of breaching the notice by failing to ensure the park home was assessed by a registered park home surveyor and/or failing to remove and dispose of it.

She was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £2,576.94.

The court also made a Remedial Order requiring the park home to be removed from Victoria Park within 28 days. If this does not happen, Herefordshire Council can take possession of the park home, remove and dispose of it, and recover the costs from Ms Kostyuk.

Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Roads and Regulatory Services, Councillor Barry Durkin, said:

“This case followed repeated complaints from residents and a lengthy period in which the owner was given opportunities to address the condition of the park home.

“People should not have to put up indefinitely with a property being allowed to deteriorate to the point where it becomes a persistent problem for those living around it.

“Taking someone to court is not our first option, and we will always seek to work with people to resolve issues wherever possible. However, where reasonable requests to put things right are not acted upon, we will take appropriate enforcement action and if necessary, reclaim any costs involved.

“I hope the court’s decision now means this long-running issue can finally be resolved for residents at Victoria Park.”

Breaching a Community Protection Notice is a criminal offence. Failure to comply can result in enforcement action, including prosecution.