After months of growing discontent, Tory-controlled Wiltshire Council has finally issued a warning to contractors Balfour Beatty, holders of a £150 million contract to carry out maintenance work from filling potholes to cutting grass.
The council has issued an order to Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP) to improve, and declared that otherwise it will not be paid for parts of the deal.
The council’s stand follows a winter where Wiltshire’s roads crumbled and now a second summer with residents having to use their own lawnmowers to tend to communal areas of gardens and play parks to control the grass.
The move was applauded by independent Wiltshire councillor Jeff Osborn, who told Marlborough News Online: “After months of our campaigning, Wiltshire Council have finally acknowledged that Balfour Beatty are not providing an acceptable service for all Wiltshire residents.
“Jane Scott, as council leader, and John Thomson, as the responsible Cabinet member, could no longer ignore the mounting evidence. For many local people the grass cutting contract in particular has been a failure.
“It has taken them a long time, but after so many complaints from the angry public, I am just glad that Wiltshire Council finally agree that my fellow independent councillor Terry Chivers and I were correct and Balfour Beatty should start to pay the price and remedy the situation.
“The briefing note proves we were correct all along, though Wiltshire Council tried for months to ignore the obvious.”
A council spokesman said: “BBLP was awarded the contract last year an its performance has proved to be below the expected standard in a small number of area, including grass cutting.
“If performance does not improve then the council will seek further actions from BBLP.”
Councillor John Thompson added: “The service being provided isn’t good enough and we are determined to work with Balfour Beatty Living Places so standards rise quickly.”
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