The new 'Transport for Buckinghamshire' service, which covers ground maintenance, was formed by Bucks County Council on April 1, in alliance with Ringway Jacobs.

But a deal with an external contractor for weeding has yet to be finalised.

Mark Averill, interim network operation manager at Transport for Buckinghamshire, admitted that weeding 'was one area we are not quite up to speed yet'.

He said that the contract for Ringway to run the new service was only awarded in February.

Aylesbury has been badly hit by the unwanted greenery, which has been left untreated for almost three months, with the area around the gyratory system looking particularly unruly.

Aylesbury Town Council became so concerned about the state of the streets that it negotiated with the county council to carry out the work itself.

The town centre and the major roads into it have now been treated with chemicals by ATC's own qualified staff, although a deal between the two authorities could not be reached for the rest of the town.

Keith Turner, environment development officer at ATC, said ATC had considered pulling out of the coveted Britain in Bloom competition, such was the state of the streets.

Chris Adams, from UKIP, who also complained about the level of weeding, claimed that he was told by a member of county council staff that potholes were also not being repaired due to another problem finalising contracts.

However, Mr Averill denied that potholes were not being repaired.

For more on this story, pick up a copy of todays Bucks Herald.

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