Councillors are launching their own ‘war of the roses’ against a social landlord.

When social housing provider Incommunities planted dozens of roses in Saltaire to “brighten up” Alexander Square near the almshouses it sparked anger in other areas of the district.

Now councillors from Windhill and the Ravenscliffe, Fagley and Thorpe Edge estates are challenging Incommunities about its decision to spend cash on plants.

Councillor David Ward (Lib Dem) wants to know why rose beds are being replanted when, he claims, residents across Thorpe Edge, Ravenscliffe and Fagley are being told that they cannot have items like fences repaired.

He said: “Good luck to Saltaire, I’m sure the new roses will look very nice but it’s just not right. Incommunities are telling us they are strapped for cash when it comes to doing repairs such as fences but it’s okay for them to carry out the beautification of Saltaire. It’s inconsistent and is sending out different messages.

“The people living on estates needing money spent on fences and making their gardens better for children to play in will be raising eyebrows at this.”

Fellow Lib Dem councillor John Watmough said there were homes in his Windhill area which did not meet the Decent Homes Standard.

“I’m always getting complaints from people in properties that need sorting out but are told they’ll have to wait,” he said. They won’t be happy either.”

Coun Ward said he had written to Incommunities boss Geraldine Howley saying her organisation seemed to have one set of standards for one group of tenants and a different one for another.

However, an Incommunities spokesman said it had listened to tenants and was looking at developing its future investment programme to include fencing work across many of its neighbourhoods.

In defence of the roses, he said: “These small-scale works were part of Incommunities’ cyclical grounds maintenance programme which covers over 200 communal gardens and open spaces across the district.

“It includes maintaining grassed areas, flower beds, hedges and play areas for the benefit of residents. The work at Alexandra Square was to renew existing flower parts as part of our ground maintenance programme.”

Incommunities has invested £295 million to date in modernising thousands of its homes and says 97 per cent of its housing stock now meets a level in excess of the Government’s Decent Homes Standard.