A park in Halewood has been left looking “like a wasteland” after delays in the council taking over the land.
The land off Lightoaks Drive, once occupied by the Bridgefield Forum leisure centre, has become overgrown with 4ft-high weeds as neither Knowsley Council nor housing developers Countryside Properties has taken responsibility for maintaining it consistently.
One resident of the neighbouring housing estate, finished in 2018, described the situation as “an absolute shambles”.
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He said: “It’s overgrown, the turf that Countryside did put down is now completely destroyed.
“There was a lot of original shrubbery and trees, things like that, and looking at the park now I’d say 50% of the trees have gone and the borders with the shrubs have just completely overgrown.
“It just looks like a wasteland.”
When Countryside built the neighbouring development of 29 houses on the former leisure centre, the land nearer Greensbridge Lane was left as open space and was supposed to be handed back to Knowsley Council to maintain.
However, the handover has not happened and, in the meantime, Countryside has not been carrying out the routine maintenance the land needs, most recently saying the Covid-19 pandemic had delayed the company carrying out the necessary work.
The resident, who did not want to be named, said the company had done some “ad hoc” work after several complaints from neighbours, but had since stopped responding to emails.
He said: “It’s so bad that the residents have actually taken to cutting the grass verges they can reach themselves.”
A Knowsley Council spokesperson said: “The land is currently owned by the developer, Countryside Properties, who we have made aware of residents’ concerns about the condition of the green space.
“We have been informed that Countryside Properties are arranging for maintenance to be carried out this week.”
A spokesperson for Countryside said: “We offer our sincere apologies to residents at Goddard Chase for any inconvenience caused by the current condition of the parkland at the development.
“Maintaining this area has been an ongoing commitment of ours but due to operational restrictions arising from Covid, our recent attendance has been delayed. We are working hard to address this as quickly as possible and are hoping to commence works this week.
“The roads throughout the development are being adopted by the council and this process will be concluded following the completion of remedial works which are currently underway.”
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