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Tenants face eviction for building eco-friendly garden
IT SEEMS like a scene from 'the good life' - a perfect environmentally-friendly system which creates organic food and produces very little waste, all within a family's back yard.
But the Hodgetts and Everitt family's countryside dream in Churchover may be coming to an end, by the very same council that is promoting residents to recycle more.
They currently have 25 chickens that eat the family's garden and kitchen waste, provide the manure for the garden and fruit and vegetable patch and lay eggs.
But Rugby Borough Council has asked them to take away the birds as they breach tenancy agreements over keeping animals. And if they don't comply the family face being kicked out of the house.
Officials say the chickens and ducks - which are kept in a 60 by 35 foot enclosure overlooking fields - cannot be classed as domestic pets.
However, Michelle Hodgetts - whose name is on the council-owned tenancy of the address in Trusteel Houses - said: "It's a ludicrous situation.
We are just a young family trying to do our bit for the environment."
She argues that because the birds are kept outdoors away from the house in large pen, they are exempt from the pet law.
"They are part of our family now and we give them five-star treatment, which they will not enjoy if they are taken elsewhere," added Michelle.
Michelle and her partner Matthew Everitt and their two children, Shannon, five, and Jessica, two, have been enjoying their way of life for about a year and a half.
The family have even offered to end the environmentally-friendly way of life when the chickens come to the end of their natural life, which could be in three years' time.
Michelle added: "As times prove hard and cost of living seem to increase everyday, we are trying to keep costs where by keeping chickens and growing our own fruit and vegetables.
"However, it seems our local council doesn't share the same view."
Cllr. Leigh Hunt, Cabinet Member for Sustainable and Inclusive Communities, said the council acted because complaints were made.
But Michelle said her neighbours 'totally supported' their way of life.
Cllr. Hunt added: "If a resident is causing a nuisance to their neighbours it is only fair that we work with them to try and resolve the issues.
"If they don't respond to our attempts to solve the problem then as a last resort we will consider asking the tenant to leave their property."
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Weather for Rugby
Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 25 C
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