AIBU to offer to pay to clear my neighbour's dead pond?

[waryandbored]

My neighbour has hugely neglected their garden this year and their massive pond which had a load of fish in. They were away for weeks and on their return didn’t fill up the pond. It has now completely dried up and the fish are dead in the dry pond. The smell is unbelievable and we can’t open our windows or back door because of that and the sheer number of flies. I have tried approaching the neighbour but they just shrugged and didn’t engage. This is typical of them. I’ve contacted our local council who have given me a case number but nothing else. Someone else contacted the RSPCA who came over for about 10 minutes.
I have been in touch with someone who has quoted me £450 to clean the pond entirely and remove the hundreds of maggots. He hasn’t seen it but I’ve sent photos so he can see the size of it.
My kids can’t go in the garden at the moment because of the smell and flies and it’s nearly time for them to go back to school so I’m considering offering to pay for the cleaning. We aren’t particularly wealthy and this money will come out of my savings but I just can’t stand it anymore. AIBU?

Typo could end up paying the contractor and the neighbour blocks their work so you’re £459 down and still have the smell. Consider going on some days out instead with the money?

sorry it sucks

I'd complain to environmental health. They can't leave it like that.

Poor fish, how sad

Contact environmental health.

What a horrible situation. I think that contacting environmetal health is good advice.

How old are your neighbours? Have they always been neglectful or is this new behaviour? I'm asking incase they are becoming elderly/infirm or whether it's a mental health or safeguarding case. Do you think they might be hoarders or strugging to cope? If they live in social housing you can also contact the Housing Association.

Thanks for replies. I have reported to environmental health today. To answer a few questions, the neighbour used to have a spouse who took care of the garden. They passed away over 4 years ago and the current neighbour continued to take basic care of the garden. It’s not a particular high needs garden but the pond is very large so probably requires some knowledge and upkeep. It seemed to change at the start of this year when the neighbour went on holiday for a while and didn’t have anyone feeding the fish. They have never been particularly friendly but have said hello and have been over to ask us for favours a few times. Their spouse was more personable and also had a big family who, as far as we know, don’t have anything to do with the neighbour now.
The neighbour isn’t elderly or disabled and is out regularly but I obviously can’t speak for their mental health.

I hope they never ever have animals/fish again. Arseholes.

On the plus side, the smell won't last forever, it will go once the maggots have done their job and all rotted down. Doesn't help now but it will end after a couple of weeks.

I think you could offer. Our neighbour had a problem with a tree of ours and kept sending me horrible messages. I explained I understood there was an issue but I couldn't afford to deal with it at the time. They never offered assistance with the costs though the tree was not bothering us in the slightest! I had to block her in the end. I have now removed the tree (cost of £1200) but haven't even had a thank you. They are not short of cash.

Phone environmental health. They will enforce a clean up

Crikey this is awful, poor fish.

Nothing to add just feel really sad people do this to animals.

I wouldn't pay to have it cleaned. Gross though they are, the maggots are actually doing that job already. A previous poster suggested using the cash for some days out - that would be preferable as at least your family would get some enjoyment out of it.

In that case, I’d do it but don’t tell them you’re paying. Say you know someone who can do it and never mention the cost.

Would naming and shaming work in this situation?

I would put on my local community Facebook group.
For example

" Hi, I live on Belmont Road, and my next-door neighbour is currently..... Does anybody know what service I could contact? "

Maybe a bit of community shame would make them clear their garden up.

Those poor fish, though. That's really sad. We keep fish, and that's just a dreadful way to treat animals. 😥