TENANTS of a country close say their street is becoming a "derelict slum" because neither the council nor housing developers will clean it.

And residents of Ampleforth Close in Chelsfield say they have been forced to sweep glass from the street to stop children injuring themselves.

Broomleigh Housing Association opened 18 houses on the land - previously allotments - more than two years ago but says it is the council's responsibility to clean the streets.

And Bromley says street-cleaning is up to the developers as the close has not been "adopted".

Monty Brownson moved into the close in May 1996 with his wife Brenda and two children.

He said: "It's developing into a derelict slum. We already sweep the road if there's any glass.

"It concerns me that Bromley, while promoting a clean and green image, is failing to live up to the promise it gives its residents."

Mr Brownson said the grass verge in the close had not been cut for more than a year. "This area is now used by the local inhabitants as a dog toilet, I suspect, because it looks like a derelict plot," he said.

Housing services manager at Broomleigh Housing Association Anne Foley confirmed the grass had not been cut since last summer.

She said: "We will try to get this problem sorted out. It is not our responsibility to clean roads."

Bromley Council cleansing manager Alan Carter said: "It's not being swept because it's not yet adopted. It's still the responsibility of the developers."

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