LAKES Parish councillors have been left 'disgusted' with the local authority's lack of communication over planting at Waterhead.

For 'some time' the council has been attempting to put a plan in place for 'a bright display of planting' at the popular tourist spot.

However, minutes from the parish council report that since a meeting with South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) on May 1, 'absolutely nothing has been done'.

Clerk the parish council, Michael Johnson, explained that the 'general opinion' was that some of the planting that took place as part of the £250,000 regeneration scheme had 'failed'.

"Not entirely," he said. "But it was not giving our visitors the colour we would hope to see in the summer."

He explained that he thought part of the problem had been the 'long, hot, dry weather' but the other issue had been a lack of communication from SLDC.

"It seems that time caught up with us," he said. "And this year we will not get the quality display that Lakes Parish Council wanted. It seems that a lot of this is down to trying to get SLDC to come up with a credible plan and trying to get something done for this year and it's failed so our council are quite upset about it."

He said that any lay person would look at the planting at the moment and say it was 'horrible' but was optimistic that the council would be able to work with SLDC to ensure that something could be put in place for next year.

"I've been instructed to write a letter to SLDC and suggest that we get something in place for next year at no cost to SLDC," he said. "And ensure we get what we wanted which is an attractive planted area for our visitors and locals."

It was also resolved that the council would 'write to the CEO of SLDC expressing the Councils total disgust and raise an official complaint about this issue'.

A spokesperson for South Lakeland District Council said: “SLDC held a positive meeting with the parish council to formulate a plan for the beds at Waterhead and a scheme was agreed.

“Unfortunately, the recent hot spells of weather prevented some of the work progressing as we would have liked, as it was too dry to move the plants without risking damage. This also meant it wouldn’t be possible to plant the bedding as the extreme weather conditions meant they wouldn’t survive.

“We now intend to complete the works by the end of September or early October.

“We can only apologise for these delays and we appreciate the parish council’s frustrations, but we can reassure them that we are committed to delivering a scheme that will improve the beds in line with our discussions.

“We have always said that we are willing to work together with Lakes Parish Council on possible sponsorship of the beds and have said that is something we will pursue with them once the replanting was complete.’’