HOUSEHOLDS across West Wiltshire are due to receive written apologies from the county’s highways contractor for not meeting its grass cutting commitments.

Balfour Beatty Living Places has faced repeated criticism since taking on the £150 million council contract two years ago.

It has now prepared a leaflet acknowledging its failure to keep up with its planned schedule.

The leaflet, attributed to contract director Tom West says: “We’re sorry that we haven’t always been able to get the work done to your satisfaction.

“We have been working very hard to put things right.

“We have a plan, approved by the council, to make sure we stay on top of things.”

It also calls on residents to contact them if they are still not happy with the work done on grass verges and play areas across the county.

The firm apologised to the council in May.

Councillor John Thomson, cabinet member for highways, promised to withhold payment until Balfour Beatty was back on schedule.

The contractors said that despite additional resources, grass cutting fell behind schedule.

Now it has brought in 11 extra teams, and had others working seven days a week and on bank holidays to prioritise the worst affected areas.

It claims any lingering problems will be addressed in the next round of grass cutting.

Philip Whitehead, the councillor in charge of overseeing the contract, said: “We have been working hard with Balfour Beatty to address the concerns of residents in West Wiltshire.

“Any fall in the standard of service provided is not acceptable so we are pleased the contractor has agreed to a plan of action and acted swiftly to put the situation right.”