COUNCIL chiefs have caved to pressure from fed-up residents in an Irvine housing estate and cut the grass following a maintenance turf war.

Residents in Montgomerie Park claim they have been ‘left to rot’ after maintenance factors pulled out of their estate and North Ayrshire Council refuse to clean up.

Families living in the estate have become embroiled in a turf war between themselves, former factors Mitie and North Ayrshire Council in a dispute over who is responsible for the upkeep of common areas.

Last month the Times told how residents feared a child may come to harm after numerous reports of dogs being injured on broken glass in the play parks and grassy areas, following reports of dogs suffering slashed paws.

Residents say they pay almost £300 per month in council tax and as such, say they have a responsibility to maintain the area.

But council bosses say it is in their title deeds that they must pay for an external factor to maintain the estate and say NAC “is not in a position to assume the additional responsibilities or costs”.

However, after much debate council chiefs carried out some work in the common areas in the estate as an “interim solution”.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “We have carried out some works as part of the council’s commitment to spend the limited budget we have for the maintenance of Montgomerie Park. This is considered to be an interim solution with a reduced maintenance regime until the appointment of a new factor and landscape maintenance contractor by residents.

“We are currently in the process of compiling information on potential factoring companies and their services with a view to providing this to residents. This will also outline how a vote on the appointment of a new factor can be facilitated.”