Communal gardens, shrubs, hedges and open spaces belonging to the Trust will be kept in tip top condition with a 12-strong landscaping team.

The new and improved contract arrangements, which have been developed in partnership with customers, will also see that fly-tipping and litter hot spots are cleared quickly. Regular sweeps of the Trust’s estates will keep them free of abandoned junk and waste.

Working from a local depot the team has got straight down to work. The contract, which started on 1 April 2009, also covers the maintenance of green space surrounding Trust properties and includes grass cutting, shrub bed maintenance, weed control, hedge cutting and other open spaces belonging to the Trust.

Every fortnight, from March to September, elderly customers who live in a Trust bungalow and find it hard to maintain their garden will get a friendly helping hand from a member of the Vale-team to cut the grass and trim shrubs.

Vale Contract Services is committed to working with Trust customers and has promised to organise four skip days, plant 100 trees and 10,000 daffodils a year.  The contract also includes a commitment to employ local people.

Nick Atkin, Chief Executive of Halton Housing Trust, said: “We are delighted to be working with Vale Contract Services and already our customers are noticing a real difference.                                                                

“Customers were fully involved in the contractor selection process and we were all particularly impressed with the commitment Vale make to the communities where they work. Not only will they be actively involved in local events, clean-up days and estate walkabouts, they have also made a pledge to create jobs for local people.

“The new contract marks a significant improvement to the grounds maintenance service we are now able to provide to our customers.”

Vales Contract Services is a specialist company providing grounds maintenance and environmental services to local social housing landlords and local authorities. They currently work with 18 housing associations in England and Wales.

Andrew Spink, Managing Director of Vale Contract Services, said: “We are extremely delighted to have been chosen by Halton Housing Trust to deliver this very important and visual service, given the rigorous procurement process that we went through. We are looking forward to developing the service and also building strong relationships with customers.”