Following years of complaints from neighbors, thousands of tires have been removed from a private property on Ross Road in Middlefield. In addition to violating zoning codes, local officials say the tires posed a health and environmental hazard.

The home is currently in foreclosure.

First Selectman Bob Yamartino said the town began the process of cleaning up the site after a recent superior court injunction ordered that the tires be removed.

Over the course of a few days last week, more than 8,000 tires – several truckloads – were taken from the property. In recent days, trash and other debris also was removed from the site.

Yamartino expected that the exterior of the property would be in compliance by the end of this week.

For years, the display of tires led to complaints at town meetings. Neighbors called it an eyesore.

The cost of removing the tires was estimated to be $80,000. At the time of this writing, the effort had cost Middlefield $25,000. According to Yamartino, the town is pursuing every avenue to recover the cost of the cleanup.

The court injunction bans more tires from being brought to the site. If more tires are added, the property owner could be arrested.