AROUND 15 years ago Halton Council gave me and my neighbours permission to take over the maintenance of a strip of land beside our homes.

I had the land levelled, landscaped and grassed and put a nice fence around it.

All went well for many years until the council suddenly told us all to move our fences and give the land back. We all complied and maintenance of the land was taken over by the council.

This land is now an eyesore.

It is no longer being adequately looked after. It must be at least eight weeks since the grass was mowed.

It makes my garden look bad and gives the impression that this area is being neglected.

I have had new turf laid front and back but weeds are blowing from this overgrown area.

My neighbours are all moaning and I have complained to the council. It needs to be sorted out.

Arthur Owen

Sennen Close

Runcorn

Halton Cllr Stan Hill, board member for transportation, said: “Alongside such carriageways on many recent estates is a ‘service strip’, which is approximately two metres wide and provides a corridor for utility equipment.

“This usually appears to be part of the householder’s garden and it is expected that this will be maintained by the householder as prescribed by the deeds of the house.

“It is also usually clear in the deeds and in highway law that the strip must not be obstructed in any way by fences or large trees or shrubs.”