An Edinburgh woman is locked in a battle with the council after claiming newly installed bins led to a rodent infestation in her home. Philippa Berry, 58, who lives in Dalry Cemetery Lodge House, has said that Edinburgh City Council and Friends of Dalry Cemetery were wrong to install five bins outside her property.
She says the bins have attracted rodents which have started entering her home, forcing her to call pest control.
After ongoing debate between Philippa and the Friends group, she asked the leader to cease all forms of communication. They and the council have refused to comment due to legal proceedings.
Philippa told Edinburgh Live: “They put five bins in, and as a result I got mice. I asked the council to put one bin there and I was told no, you can’t do that because of wheelchair access.
“The Friends of Dalry Cemetery ask to put five bins in and that’s allowed? ”The council has added a whole load of bins without speaking to me first, and the problem is I’ve had rats that dig under my house.
“I saw an albino rat in my garden, and it actually turned up to my pizza party. It turned up and started eating popcorn. Somebody was drunk and thought it was a pet so started stroking it.”
A report from the pest control company which Philippa contacted at the time reads: “Possible reason for mice in property may be down to increased rat activity at bins outside kitchen window area, fresh rat evidence was found at the bins.”
Philippa has raised other issues including anti-social behaviour. She says she had security measures installed due to safety concerns.
The Friends of Dalry Cemetery have asked Philippa to 'reduce' her security systems which include cameras and panic buttons. They argued the sensor and audible alarm were going off for almost every person who walked into the cemetery.
This was after a shed, containing gardening tools and other items for the Friends group was placed across from her kitchen window. Philippa added: "I was told it would be moved.
"They wouldn't give me a date, and there was people hanging around across from my window. Months later it was finally moved."
While her request for the shed to be moved due to a 'breach of privacy' was met, she claims it took months. The shed, which was also erected outside her kitchen window, was eventually moved to another location in the cemetery after extensive communication between all three parties.
Back in 2021, after requesting to plant daffodil bulbs in the graveyard, Philippa was given permission by the council - though things didn't go as planned. It's understood that after grabbing her tools and getting to work planting the bulbs with a friend, she was told her 'methodology and plan' should have been approved first. Correspondence from council officers claims the rotary drill she used had the potential to "disturb human remains" and tombstones.
Philippa is currently pursuing legal action against the council. Both the council and the Friends of Dalry Cemetery declined to comment on "ongoing legal proceedings."
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