Concerns have been raised that a number of open spaces on new developments in South Holland are not being maintained as they should be.
Long Sutton Parish Council says it has issues over two such areas in the town in John Swains Way and Lime Walk both of which have become overgrown as a result.
When planning applications are passed for new estates by South Holland District Council its agreement with the developer usually includes details of who will be responsible for the upkeep of any parks or areas of foliage.
Councillors at Long Sutton raised the issues in the area with the district council but were told ‘unfortunately there are a number of areas of public open space within the district dating back to when such areas were generally adopted by South Holland District Council, which were never adopted’.
With regards to Lime Walk, which includes a children’s play area, SHDC say maintenance should still be the responsibility of Westleigh Developments as it hadn’t been adopted by the district council two years after its creation as it was meant to be.
However Westleigh Developments was taken over by another company in 2018 so the district council has told the parish it needs to take ‘legal advice’ before any enforcement action.
With regards to John Wains Way the district council says it has attended to trim dangerous trees.
It claims Seagate Homes is responsible for maintenance, but that it should have taken that on after the first year.
“For some reason this didn’t happen and it’s likely that the schedule isn’t enforceable,” its correspondence to the parish council states.
Karen Treacher, the clerk of Pinchbeck Parish Council, said: “In my opinion any Section 106 agreement (the legal document regarding community infrastructure needed for the passing of planning permission) or management plan adopted by SHDC and local developers is not worth the paper they are written on.”
A spokesman for South Holland District Council, said: “The sites in question have not had applications from the developer for the land to be adopted. Where the intention for this is in the initial management plan, it is still a requirement for the developer to submit an application for this, and where this has not been done the developer remains responsible for its maintenance.
“Where the council receives complaints regarding issues such as overgrown grass, it will contact the developer to ask for it to be cut or otherwise addressed. This falls within the council’s general powers to deal with untidy land that is adversely affecting the amenity of the local area.”
