Homeowners in a plush Irvine housing estate will receive limited grass-cutting once again after residents voted against the council’s choice of new factor.

Montgomerie Park residents have been told the limited grounds maintenance will resume when it is ‘safe’ after the council confirmed parks and promenade areas would be cut from last week.

Council chiefs eventually agreed to intervene after residents complained they had been ‘left to rot’ last year when maintenance factors pulled out of their estate and NAC at first refused to clean up.

We reported last year how families became embroiled in a turf war with former factors Mitie and NAC over who is responsible for the upkeep, with residents fearing a child could be harmed after reports of dogs being injured on broken glass in the grass.

Council bosses approached a number of companies to help manage the common ground on behalf of the owners and say they received one proposal, which residents were then asked to vote on and advised that in the event of an unsuccessful vote the reduced maintenance regime put in place last year would continue.

After the vote, 63 households voted No and 52 households voted Yes – (with two spoiled ballots and one duplicate) with the proposal to appoint a new factor unsuccessful.

An NAC spokesperson said: “The reduced regime was due to commence in April but again due to the restrictions of COVID-19 that has not been possible. Maintenance work will resume when safe to do so in accordance with government advice.”

“The council thanks residents for their co-operation and patience.”

Residents previously complained that 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 was “not in a position to assume the additional responsibilities or costs”.

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