The company responsible for the maintenance of green spaces in Redbridge has claimed the council owes them nearly half a million pounds.

This response comes after the council terminated its contract with Ground Control Ltd after claiming no grounds maintenance work had been carried out since November 4. 

Ground Control Ltd was responsible for the maintenance of the majority of green spaces in the borough, including a number of parks, grass verges and hedges and green spaces at council-owned housing sites and some schools.

Councillor Wes Streeting, deputy leader and cabinet member for health, criticised the company and said the work since the start of the year had not met standards.

Hitting back, Ground Control Ltd said the lack of maintenance is because of Redbridge council’s failure to pay almost half a million pounds of overdue invoices.

Ground Control managing director, Dr Marcus Watson, said: “We were forced to accept termination of the contracts on October 29 due to Redbridge’s failure to pay for any work done since February 2014.

“The council’s failure to pay any of its bills in that period is the only cause for jobs being at risk. 

“We simply cannot continue to work without payment for such a prolonged period.

“We understand that the council faces severe financial difficulties but we cannot believe that it would choose to solve its problems by not paying its suppliers for cost-effective services won in open competition. 

“Since termination of the contracts, we have made more than 40 recorded attempts to speak, or meet, with council officers to discuss the smooth transition of jobs and services to new providers. 

“We even offered to continue working free of charge for a period to ensure there was no disruption to services for the community but this was not accepted.

“In spite of these difficulties, we are pleased that our work has been recognised, with Redbridge parks winning four ‘Green Flag’ awards this year.

“We believe elected councillors may not have been accurately apprised of the situation."

Redbridge council has been contacted for comment on these allegations.