Residents refuse to pay 'unfair' garden firm fees

HUNDREDS of homeowners across Scotland are threatening a no-payments campaign against the firm responsible for maintaining common areas in private housing estates.

Despite threats of legal action against non-payers, a group of campaigners is vowing never to part with charges that average around 100 a year to the land management giant Greenbelt Group.

The homeowners – almost all of whom live in suburban new-build properties – in the central belt and north-east of Scotland claim the service they receive is poor and that the payments they are asked for are unfair.

Dozens of local residents' groups in Scotland and England have joined forces to try to have Greenbelt removed as effectively the factor for common areas around their homes, such as grass verges, flood defence pools and play parks. The Greenbelt contract is included in missives when new homes are purchased, leaving owners no choice but to accept.

One campaigner, Mike Marriott of the West Myerton Residents Group, which represents a new-build estate near Menstrie, Clackmannanshire, said: "We are starting a large Don't Pay campaign. Personally I have never paid and I don't intend to.

"Although Greenbelt are written into the deeds, there is also a comprehensive specification of maintenance that Greenbelt are supposed to carry out. They have never carried out the maintenance to the required spec."

Greenbelt has long disputed that its work is not up to scratch. Campaigners – who are united in a national network called Greenbelt Group Action – have recruited more than 40 MPs to their cause.

Marriott and his fellow campaigners argue that the charges Greenbelt is asking of them are illegal. A test case – supported by watchdog Consumer Focus Scotland – is likely to be pursued this year.

Greenbelt's managing director, Alex Middleton, yesterday said a non-payment campaign would be "irresponsible".