NEIGHBOURS in Calne have criticised Wiltshire Council for failing to maintain the open spaces in their estate.

Charlie Mondahl, 64, of Stickleback Road, claims that the council, which is meant to cut grass once a month between March and October, has not cut the grassland at the end of the road this year.

He said: “The council have basically stopped maintaining their own spaces in our estate. We are all really angry about it; everyone is fed up with it

"The grass is up to three feet high in places with weeds everywhere. They’re supposed to do it from March but they have not been here.

“Up until this year, they have always been maintained but they have just stopped it and not done anything since last year.

“I reported on their email system and rang them two or three times but they said it was budgetary."

Mr Mondahl is now concerned that the grass is so long that it will cause further issues if left to rot rather than being taken away once cut.

Neighbours have already had to pay a private contractor to cut a nearby hedge which had become so overgrown it was falling over.

Mr Mondahl said he would happily adopt the land and take care of it, if Wiltshire Council was no longer able to maintain it.

Another resident of Stickleback Road, who acknowledged the huge job the council faces in cutting the county's grasslands, said: "We want it to look neat and tidy if it became a wild meadow that would look alright. I am happy to leave it as a wild meadow, it’s a significant piece of land which is deemed to be incidental open space. It would be good for insects and birds they love that sort of thing.

“If nobody uses it I am happy for it to be a meadow but Wiltshire Council must tell us and what they are going to do to maintain it as a meadow.

“I think the communication needs to be a hell of a lot better, the council needs to be a bit proactive.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesperson said: “Grass cutting has been extremely successful this year, and a vast majority has been cut as we would expect.

“However, a small number of areas were missed off the schedule this year. This has been drawn to the attention of our contractor, who will ensure they are brought up to standard as soon as possible.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused.”