Housing Association must resolve situation in Balmedie - Bruce

5.15.53pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 16th Jul 2007

Gordon MP Malcolm Bruce has called on Grampian Housing Association to resolve the matter of the maintenance of public spaces in Balmedie.

The Housing Association is set to ballot local residents on plans to charge them over £150 for maintaining open spaces near their homes.

However, the MP has been advised by residents and local Lib Dem Councillor Paul Johnston that no ground maintenance has taken place on properties owned by GHA in Eigie Crescent for several months. Concerns have been raised that in addition to looking untidy, the unkempt areas could pose a health and safety hazard for children playing in the area.

Malcolm Bruce has also been advised that several owners on the Eigie estate are set to be charged £500 each for ground maintenance by GHA - despite being advised at the time of sale that the land their homes stand on was owned by Aberdeenshire Council.

Commenting, the Lib Dem MP said:

"I have written to Grampian Housing Association asking that they act to resolve the situation in Balmedie as a matter of urgency.

"I am very concerned that residents of the Eigie estate are set to be charged a considerable amount for maintenance that should be covered by their rent.

"It is particularly disturbing that several homeowners face an even larger bill when they were advised at the time of sale that their homes stand on council land.

"Regardless of the ownership issue, it is simply not satisfactory for open spaces to lie untended until the residents have been balloted. This could take months. Action should be taken now to keep these spaces in a satisfactory state."