Leicestershire County Council has responded to 'inaccurate criticism' after it was claimed it owned land being maintained by North West Leicestershire District Council.

Coalville councillor Michael Wyatt said the maintenance of some of the town's grassed and flowerbed areas would be 'a mess' if full responsibility were to be handed over to Leicestershire County Council.

Last week's meeting of North West Leicestershire District Council's Coalville Special Expenses Committee debated whether to continue to pay for the upkeep of three areas of the town which, it was thought, were owned by the County Council.

The areas are:

• The land near Broom Leys Church

• High Street, next to Coalville Library

• The flowerbeds in Memorial Square

Labour councillors questioned whether the District Council should continue to finance the upkeep of areas.

But the County Council hit back by saying it did not own the land in those parts of Coalville.

Councillor Ozzy O'Shea, cabinet member for highways and transport at Leicestershire County Council, said: "We are not responsible for maintaining flowerbeds as part of our highways operation and this has been a district council function for many years.

"Given that issues around land ownership and roles are complex, it would have been extremely beneficial for district councillors to have sought out the facts before discussing this in a public meeting and levelling inaccurate criticism."

Liberal Democrat Councillor Wyatt's recommendation that all three areas should be maintained by the District Council will be put to the Cabinet meeting at the end of the month.

But the County Council now says it was always the Coalville-based authority's responsibility.

Liberal Democrat councillor Michael Wyatt. Photo: North West Leicestershire District Council

Cllr Wyatt responded to the County Council statement by saying: "The issue is simple. The land is county.

"The district have for decades had flowerbeds on their land.

"If we choose to give it back to the county it will be just a grassed area which is just cut to their standard, which is sub standard.

"I stand by my criticism, 100 per cent."

At last week's meeting, the committee also agreed to look at the ownership of the Fox and Goose area of the town.

But Labour councillor John Geary made the point that the District Council was paying almost £3,000 a year to maintain what was considered to be County Council land.

He proposed that only the Memorial Square flowerbeds should be kept under District Council.

But that drew opposition from committee chair Cllr Wyatt.

Speaking before the County Council issued its statement, he said: "I think the County Council is not fit for purpose, we all know that, and it probably should be abolished. I think we know for a fact that the District Council would do a far better job.

High Street, Coalville

"I would not support any recommendation to cut the budget, and I won't allow the County Council to do it, it'd be an absolute mess.

"We have a duty to make sure these areas are kept tidy.

"If we handed it over, the District Council would get the blame for it.

"We can also look to get sponsorship for the flower beds which we are now in a position to do.

"You've only got to look at the areas the County Council is responsible for. It's absolutely shocking. It's awful what the County Council do, and if it means this district council puts some finance in to keep the areas like High Street, Broom Lays and the Fox and Goose, so be it, I don't mind. I'll put my name to that."

Cllr Geary made the point that it still meant the District Council would still be doing work that the County Council was meant to be doing.

He responded to Cllr Wyatt by saying: "I'm interested in your reasoning, because the County Council are not doing it to our satisfaction, we should do it ourselves.

"Maybe they'll have us filling potholes next in Coalville.

Broom Leys, Coalville

"It's never been pointed out to us before that we've been spending money to maintain county council land, almost £3,000 a year, a considerable amount to be maintaining someone else's commitments.

"It's work that county council should be picking up.

"Last year, I got comments regarding the flower beds around the Clocktower, they said it didn't reflect well on our fallen heroes and I totally agree.

"I'd dread to think what would happen if it went to the County Council.

"But I'd recommend we don't continue to maintain High Street or Broom Leys Corner. But we should keep Memorial Square under our control as it means so much to local people.

"That works out at £699 per annum, I'd be happy to increase that to £1,000 so that works can be done to honour the fallen people of our district."

Labour councillor, John Legrys added: "It's important that Memorial Square is at least tidied up.

"The County Council has been very poor at maintaining the paving and the facilities - they have been improved over the decades, by this council, which is very sad."