VILLAGERS in Winsley are taking matters into their own hands mounting a clean-up operation after they claim Wiltshire County Council has failed to keep the roads and verges well maintained.

Parish councillor Ian Kieschke says since the county council took over the general maintenance and tidiness of the parish standards have slipped.

Cllr Kieschke said: "We used to be responsible for the tidiness of our parish and we employed a local man to do the work.

"In those days the parish looked neat and well cared for and we won the Best Kept Village competition twice in the eighties.

"In the interests of greater efficiency the county council took over and our road man was made redundant.

"Since then the appearance has steadily declined.

"We would like nothing more than that which we are paying our council tax for."

Villagers are launching a campaign to clean up Winsley starting with a poster competition to raise awareness with schoolchildren.

A Saturday Scrape is being held on December 13 when volunteers are being asked to scrape up the grass and weeds growing out of kerbsides in the village. Marjorie Beale is part of the committee organising the Saturday Scrape.

She said: "The village is not that untidy but there are areas that do not get cleaned up and if we can get some momentum going then we can look to enter the Best Kept Village competition again in a year or so's time."

Cllr Kieschke said: "The machine they were planning to use to clean up would not fit down the roads which seems very bad planning.

"They tell us they come twice a year but they tend to sweep the roads just before the leaves start falling which does not make any sense.

"We cannot hire a new person to clean up because we cannot charge residents twice for cleaning through the council tax."

A spokesman for Wiltshire County Council said: "They could apply through the parish lengthsman scheme for extra help.

"We have not been contacted by Winsley parish council but if they contact the area highways office then if they have the budget and the kit they can come and clean up.

"If Winsley used to have someone dedicated to keeping it clean it is understandable people may think they are not getting the service they are used to."