RESIDENTS have welcomed long-awaited maintenance work to tidy up their estate in Droitwich.

Homeowners in the Hanbury Park estate previously voiced their anger at Persimmon Homes, the company they claimed had let their area fall into disrepair.

However, Wychavon District Council has now confirmed the developer has given it a massive £225,000 to carry out maintenance work at the site.

People living on the estate had complained of rivers clogged with trees, cracked pavements, overgrown pathways and weeds but now the area's open spaces look set for a radical transformation.

Vic Medhurst, neighbourhood watch coordinator on the estate, said: "We are very pleased. It will tidy it up and make it easier for people that are selling properties. It will be a much more attractive environment and much more pleasant open spaces for people to take their dogs for a walk."

However, he went on to say he felt the responsibility for getting the work done shouldn't have been left in the hands of residents.

"If we hadn't formed ourselves into a residents committee and kept on pressing for the last seven years nothing would have been done," said the Mallard Place resident.

"It would have still been a complete mess. The view is Persimmon shouldn't have let the estate deteriorate as much as it had an it shouldn't be up to the residents to push, push, push for what should have been done in the first place."

A spokesperson for Wychavon District Council said: "We can confirm we received just over £225,000 from Persimmon on 19 November.

"This will be split between flood alleviation/river works, future maintenance of the site and some immediate work to be carried out on the site.

"In January we will start remedial shrub work to start pruning borders to get them under control again after ten years of neglect.

"The shrub areas will look bare for at least 12 months whilst we tackle the infestation of brambles and weeds. Next winter we will do some planting as necessary.

"Grass areas will be included in our contract and be cut 16 times a year starting next March."

Lynn Stevens, senior parks and greenspace officer for Wychavon District Council, said: "This has been a lengthy process for all involved and we’re pleased it has now come to an end and look forward to implementing the planned work as soon as possible."

Andy Peters, managing director at Persimmon Homes South Midlands, confirmed: “We have liaised with both the residents and Wychavon District Council about the maintenance of public open space at Hanbury Road and are pleased to confirm this matter has been resolved.”