THE lush green verges on the roadsides of Orsett Village have led one resident in Thurrock to accuse the council of preferential treatment.

Terry Keenan from Stifford Clays is furious that the council regularly spoils the grass verge outside his house by pouring weedkiller on it, while verges in the more expensive area of Orsett are given careful attention.

Mr Keenan, of Whitmore Avenue, said: “The council totally obliterates the grass verges in Stifford Clays but in Orsett it all looks really nice.

“I try to keep the verge outside my house looking nice but what's the point when the council come along and kill all the grass with strong chemicals because they can’t be bothered to use a strimmer like they do in Orsett?”

Mr Keenan has contacted the council several times to ask it to stop putting chemicals on the grass and just leave it alone for him to tend, but the problem continues.

Thurrock Council says that it uses a number of different methods to cut grass in the borough and that it lets residents in Orsett take care of a lot of the maintenance in the village themselves.

A spokesman for the council said: “ Thurrock Council uses a variety of methods to cut grass.

“These include strimming and chemical herbicide control, particularly in areas where large machinery cannot gain access.

“However each year Orsett village competes internally, regionally and nationally for various "in Bloom" events, for example the Large Village category under in the regional Anglia in Bloom.

“Orsett residents undertake many of the grounds maintenance tasks themselves, such as maintaining wild flower verges, shrub beds, wildlife garden and the War Memorial.

“Thurrock Council endeavours to support their voluntary efforts by working in partnership with local resident-led projects.”