RESIDENTS of a street in Prestonpans feel in a “hopeless” situation due to an abandoned, boarded-up house they say is “bringing the area down”.

A property on the town’s Dolphingstone Way has been left vacant for nearly three years, since November 2021, and has since been boarded up due to previous damage to the windows.

The houses there, part of the Athena Grange estate, were only built by Stewart Milne Homes in 2010.

Pictures shared with the Courier show the back garden in a considerably overgrown state. One resident said that they were “embarrassed” to invite guests round due to the “hovel” nearby.

The Courier spoke to a number of residents of the street about how the state of the house – which is privately owned – has been affecting their lives and how it might have an impact on their future plans; they all wished to remain anonymous.

One resident said: “It brings the area down and, in the future, I am going to be downsizing.

“I really worry that I won’t be able to sell my home and, if I do, I will probably have to reduce the price due to that eyesore.

“The estate is so lovely. At the very least, I think the owners should install windows and clean up the garden so at least it looks presentable but, if not, someone needs to step in and do something about this.”

'Prepared for Hallowe'en'

Another resident told the Courier that almost everyone who entered the street stared at the house, asked about it, and made jokes about the state of the property.

They said: “There are constantly people walking past and looking in, and everyone who visits asks about it, including every delivery person, and, to be honest, it just looks awful.

“I actually have people visiting my house and make the same joke, saying: ‘I see your neighbour is well prepared for Hallowe’en.’

“The whole situation is making me very sad.”

A third resident said: “I pay the second-highest council tax band and I see this abandoned, grotty, ghost house every single day of my life and I am absolutely sick of it.

“The person either needs to sell the property to someone else or make it presentable to the point that it is not affecting us.

“There are plenty of families or couples who are in need of a good home and it is just sitting there going to waste.”

Another person, who was in a tearful state when asked about the property, said: “I feel so embarrassed when I have guests round. It is an absolute hovel and something needs to be done.”

Councillor Neil Gilbert, Preston Seton Gosford ward member, sympathised with the residents.

He said: “This is an extremely hard situation due the property being privately owned. I hope the neighbours in the street are able to find a solution.”