OVERGROWN hedges and grass verges are the unsightly results of a maintenance row which has left residents distinctly 'grassed off'.
Privets and pavement vegetation have become so unkept on Warley's Brackenwood Estate that one resident claimed she could lose her dog in the knee- high grass.
Until recently, these areas were maintained regularly by Brentwood Borough Council although that is no longer the case.
Jayne Knight, a resident for the past seven years, told the Gazette: "The council was looking after the grassed areas for years and then all of a sudden it became very erratic.
"It is very confusing – one person will say one thing and then other people will wade in and confuse matters completely.
"When I moved here the areas were always well kept – it was part of the attraction of living here.
"Now when I walk my dog the grass can be so long that I can lose him in it. In one place the hedge has overgrown so much you can't walk down the path."
Over the past few months, Warley Conservative councillor Jan Pound has been sending out letters to the residents to try to keep them abreast of the situation.
However, Mrs Knight said: "It is incredibly confusing – the company tell you what is going on and then you get a letter from your councillor saying something different."
A spokeswoman for the management company said: "There are two types of residents on the estate – there are leaseholders, who pay into the management company for the upkeep of the garages and guttering and there are freeholders who do not pay anything into the company.
"The council seems to think that we are responsible for all the grassed areas when in reality this wouldn't make sense as both leaseholders and freeholders benefit from their use. If Cllr Pound wants to help then she could fight for the council to start maintaining the land again."
Cllr Pound said: "I was contacted by residents who were concerned that the areas were not being managed.
"I discovered that council employees, while tending the trees, were told that it was private land and they should stop.
"Following this the council investigated whether they actually owned the land or were required to maintain it.
"They discovered that they did not own the land, however they agreed that stopping suddenly would be unfair on the residents and will maintain it until September.
"I've been told by the management company to stop telling them how to manage their land but I suggest they hold a meeting to discuss who will maintain it.
"The land is owned by Regisport Ltd and the management company should consult with them to try to resolve the issue."
