ONE of the UK's largest social housing providers has been accused of neglecting a Keighley estate.

Residents on Bracken Bank claim broken windows are being left boarded-up, other repairs untouched and pathways and open spaces overgrown with weeds.

Incommunities concedes that work has been affected by lockdown.

But householders say problems pre-date the coronavirus outbreak.

Calls for action are being backed by Keighley West ward district councillor, Adrian Farley.

"I have had a lot of complaints from residents – people living in Incommunities properties and some in private housing – about the situation on the estate," he said.

"There's a general lack of care and maintenance.

"Broken windows haven't been repaired, there is burned-out rubbish dumped in communal areas and pathways are not kept tidy.

"Since lockdown in particular things have been left and complaints have surged in the past six months, but this issue has been ongoing for some time now.

"At the Harewood Road flats, locks on the communal doors aren't working and haven't been for a while. A resident raised it about two years ago.

"A lot of people living at Bracken Bank are working hard to improve the area and take great pride in their environment.

"But Incommunities doesn't seem to share that love for the estate – it doesn't appear to care or be willing to grasp the issue.

"There's a state of malaise."

Incommunities accepts that a considerable amount of work has been curtailed in recent months.

But it says a recovery plan is in place and it refutes claims that it's neglecting the area.

A spokesman said: "During lockdown and whilst restrictions remain in place, our priority has been – and continues to be – the safety of our customers and staff. Inevitably, it has affected our ability to carry out a lot of site work.

"We are now working on a recovery plan to catch-up on the significant backlog of maintenance and estate works across our neighbourhoods and we are extremely grateful for the patience and understanding of our customers in these difficult times. We are also very grateful to the hard work of our teams in maintaining priority jobs such as emergency repairs and essential safety work.

"The land we own on Bracken Bank, around the flats and the play area on Harewood Road is visited weekly and rubbish is removed by our teams.

"Despite our grounds maintenance teams returning to a backlog of work after the lockdown period, we’re pleased to say they have done an average of five to six grass cuts in this area and are now progressing into our fourth round of shrub maintenance. At Bracken Bank, nearly 50 per cent of the homes are privately owned or rented and we would urge everyone to play their part in keeping the neighbourhood tidy for the benefit of everyone.

"We currently do not have any outstanding repairs for the communal doors at Harewood Road. If any Incommunities customer wishes to report a repair, nuisance activity or an estate matter we would urge them to contact us on 01274 257777 or enquiry@incommunities.co.uk and our teams will strive to follow-up promptly."