Mixed response on maintenance move
Policy on open spaces unresolved
By Leanna MacLarty – Press and Journal
EFFORTS by Aberdeenshire Council to prevent a land maintenance company from gaining control of public open spaces has received a mixed response from housing developers.
The local authority wrote to all big developers in the north-east asking them to reconsider transferring land to the Greenbelt Group.
Councillors backed the move after the private firm received a string of complaints from Aberdeenshire residents about the quality of work being carried out.
Housing firms were asked to reconsider any agreement with the Greenbelt firm and discuss management of the land with the council instead.
Only seven of the 19 firms responded to the council, members of the infrastructure services committee heard yesterday.
One unnamed developer was happy to opt for local authority control but another raised concerns about the level of red tape and lack of resources that may be involved.
Councillors agreed that policy on the management of open space should be included in the upcoming local development plan which is currently out for consultation.
The local authority will have the opportunity to bid for maintenance contracts for public open spaces.
If a developer chooses not to work with the council, a bond must be lodged against satisfactory completion of landscaping work.
A letter from Greenbelt managing director Alex Middleton acknowledged a problem with services last year and says that issues have been rectified.
“There is a group of residents intent on fighting Greenbelt but there is also a majority of residents satisfied with our arrangement,” he continues.
“Some of the land which has been in question does not even belong to Greenbelt and therefore Greenbelt is wrongly being accused of not undertaking its responsibilities.”
Head of planning and environmental services Christine Gore rejected the firm’s concerns about the “anti-competitive nature” of the council’s efforts.
“All we are saying is the council should be given the opportunity to bid for the work,” she said.
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1269566
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