WITH chest high grass and bracken brought on by the warm damp conditions, the issue of who cuts grass round former council homes is back in the spotlight.

People in two areas, Sedbury and Coleford, complained to the Review last week that they were still having problems finding out who is supposed to mow various areas.

And in some cases, says Two Rivers Housing, which has taken over the Forest council housing stock, it is just not known who owns the land in question – a problem complicated further by homes bought under Right to Buy legislation.

John Powell of Sedbury says: "Since Two Rivers took control of the council houses and the infrastructure that accompanied the takeover, they have failed miserably to ensure that the grassed areas that they are responsible for are cut regularly.

"The parish council spends considerable funds each year ensuring that the grassed areas that it is responsible for are cut regularly.

"There are areas that Two Rivers are responsible for that have not been cut for ages. There are some other areas that they do cut where borders are getting increasingly larger, so much so that it is beginning to look like farmers' "set aside".

And grass on Coleford's Sunnybank Estate is fast growing into a jungle – and residents still cannot get anybody to claim ownership and make an assault on it.

"As I see it both Two Rivers Housing, who collect rent for most of the estate, and the Forest of Dean District Council, who made the homes over to Two Rivers, both deny responsibility for cutting the grass," said Bill Owens, who lives in South Road.

"The grass looks such a mess as you come along the road from Monmouth into Coleford and it must make people think this is a really scruffy town."