People living on an estate in Hellesdon say the maintenance team responsible for mowing their lawns have left behind large piles of leftover clippings and knee-high tufts of missed grass – or have not appeared at all.
Orbit Housing Group, which is responsible for maintaining the area on Cottinghams Drive, charges tenants a service charge of up to £32 per month for landscaping and lawn mowing.
The company has acknowledged that the maintenance team has not been showing up as often as they should and said that is why they recently changed contractors.
‘THEY HAVE NO PRIDE’
Colin and Joyce Greenacre, both 91, have lived in Cottinghams Drive since it was developed almost 50 years ago.
Colin said: “We pay Orbit to cut this small patch of grass outside our door and it is shocking.
READ MORE: Anger over plans for new pool club and darts hall as local residents lodge complaints
“We try to keep it clean, but honestly they are not proud of what they do.”
Colin was the manager of the driveway when it first opened and his responsibilities included mowing the lawns, repairs and general maintenance. He held this role for two years.
“They don’t come for six months and they didn’t come in May because of the mowing ban, but they’re still taking the money quickly enough,” Colin added.
“And when they came, they did a terrible job and left clippings all over the roads and paths.
READ MORE: WATCH: A flock of ducks goes on an adventure through school hallways
“They’re not proud of what they’re doing. It’s pathetic.”
According to Orbit, ground contractors aim to make 24 visits a year, averaging two visits a month in the summer season, but some have been forced to take matters into their own hands.
‘IT’S SO BAD IT’S A JOKE’
Lorraine Morris, 48, decided to mow her own lawn after Orbit’s most recent visit missed her house completely.
“It looked like a jungle out there,” she said. ‘They haven’t come for so long and have left the place in a mess.
“Our neighbors had grass clippings all over their car and at one point we thought there was someone doing work outside the gasworks, but it was a man on a ride-on lawnmower who literally ran into our outside wall.
READ MORE: An investigation is underway into the tragic death of a police officer
“It’s so bad it’s a joke.”
Another woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘We and a few others have now started mowing our own grass to stop our properties looking a mess from the front.
“Also because of the amount of grass clippings left, I see it being brought into the house when my children come home from school.
“The last time this happened we got a big vet bill because of the grass seed that got into my dog’s paw.”
WHAT DOES ORBIT HOUSING SAY?
A spokesperson for Orbit Housing said: “We recently changed the grounds maintenance contractor on Cottinghams Drive, but unfortunately the outgoing contractor did not meet the required frequency of mowing that was expected of him.
“Our new grounds maintenance contractor recently mowed the grass but was unable to collect all the grass at the time. They will be back as soon as possible to remove this.
“We apologize that the estate has not been left in the condition that we and our clients expect, and the new contractors will return twice a month in the future to carry out the agreed ‘cut and mulch’ process, along with other seasonal landscaping work.”
“Our customers will receive a service charge credit on their next annual statement to reflect this.”