Overgrown grass verges in Abbots Langley have finally been cut after the county council accepted responsibility for the work.

Residents and councillors were becoming increasingly frustrated with overgrown grassland around the Hillside Estate as a result of confusion over land ownership.

The responsibility of grass verge maintenance is split between Hertfordshire Highways and Watford Community Housing Trust (WCHT) but, prior to now, all areas of grass had been maintained by Watford Community Housing Trust.

After WCHT changed contractors earlier this year, grass areas belonging to Hertfordshire Highways were left neglected.

Discrepancies over what areas belonged to Hertfordshire Highways were discovered when a public highway plans and grass cutting plans were compared.

Peter Scott, chairman of Hillside Resident's Association said: "It's absolutely fantasic it's been sorted out. 

"The grass has now been cut in The Graylings and Little Graylings. It was the first time in over a year, resident's are over the moon, and we hope they continue to cut the grass."

Many public highway areas had not been included on the Hertfordshire County Council and Ringway grass cutting plans, and consequently they had not been cut this year.

Abbots Langley councillors, Sara Bedford and Keith Williams, had been fighting for an answer to why areas belonging to Hertfordshire County Council were beign left uncut.

Cllr Keith Williams said: "It has taken over four months for the county council to get these areas of grass mowed. The county council has a responsibility to keep their land tidy and to ensure that they give their contractors full instructions.

"Local residents have had to wait far too long for this work to be done."

Cllr Sara Bedford said: "I hope that the county council will update its maps and contracts. This has dragged on far too long for Hillside residents. They are entitled to a much higher level of service from the county council."

Kevin Carrol, Ringway Divisional Manager, working on behalf of Hertfordshire County Council, said: "There are a few small areas of highways land that were not included on the orginal grass cutting plans.

"However, these are very limited and since being brought to our attention, we have been working closely together with Hertfordshire County Council to not only resolve the immediate problem, but to ensure they are included in the grass cutting schedule going forward.

"We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused."