This is the land that nobody seems to want.

Residents in Stamford Brook Road complained to me about it being poorly maintained. The bushes are not cut. The grass is cut but the cuttings not removed. Litter is seldom cleared.

So I raised the matter with Hammersmith and Fulham Council. The response came back that the land was in Ealing. Then this changed to say the land was in Hounslow. Then Hounslow Council came back to insist it was in Hammersmith and Fulham. Amidst the muddle and delay the email chain grew ever longer. Turf warfare with the difference that is was a fight not to accept ownership of the bit of turf in dispute.

I have now been sent what (I think) is the definitive response:

“Hounslow Council has maintenance responsibility for the Stamford Brook Green (the land was formerly under H&F Council’s responsibilities, but this changed some years ago following a boundary change).

Unfortunately a H&F rubbish bin and bench on this land were not removed following the boundary change, which has now been actioned. This clearly is confusing for residents and we have reminded Hounslow Council that they are responsible for grass cutting and maintenance and that rubbish collection is undertaken by Hounslow contractors. Hounslow Council will decide if a new rubbish bin is sited at Stamford Brook Green.

However, to respond to the concerns raised by local residents, last week H&F contractors removed the rubbish on the Green and we have let Hounslow officers know.

H&F Council is the current legal owner of the land as unfortunately the land ownership was not updated as it should have been to reflect the historic boundary change. The legal asset title is being corrected, so it is vested in Hounslow Council’s legal ownership. The operational responsibility will then tally with the legal title – both being with Hounslow Council.”