A HOUSING association is promising to pull up weeds and cut back overgrown foliage which is creating an eyesore in Laindon.

Swan Housing says it will soon clear up the problem after being inundated with complaints.

Residents living on the Somercotes estate said they have been clearing the weeds and plants themselves as no one had previously wanted to tackle the problem.

John James, 73, of Somercotes, believes part of the reason for a lack of action is because part of the road is unadopted and no one has taken responsibility for it.

He said: “It seems, with the new Five Links housing estate being built, we have been neglected, while that area is kept clean.

“Contractors were here about a month ago clearing up some weeds on the estate, but they haven’t come back. Someone needs to accept responsibility for clearing up overgrown foliage outside our homes.

“It seems strange after 40 years of sending contractors, no one wants to take on the responsibility.”

Nearby, Terry Neighbour, 69, bought his property in 1978 and has been clearing the weeds himself.

He said: “It’s not fair that I have to clear away the weeds outside my home. What do we pay taxes for?

“It is embarassing for me to invite friends or family around because of its general appearance. Something needs to be done.”

As an unadopted road, it does not meet the required standard needed for Basildon Council to take on its maintenance.

Therefore its upkeep is down to Swan, the company building homes on the rest of the estate.

A spokesman for Swan said: “Swan carries out regular landscape and road maintenance works at Five Links, which includes regular weed treatments to unadopted roads in the area.

“Weed treatment works were last carried out in June and further works are scheduled to take place shortly.”