SIR – In answer to the letter in last week's Free Press regarding the state of grass cutting on sites belonging to Magna West Somerset Housing Association, I would like to explain the nature of the problem and reassure our customers that matters are in hand.

Of the numerous problems we are experiencing, by far the most significant has been the wettest April on record, which denied access to the waterlogged grass areas and put our grass cutting programme back by a month.

As May arrived, our grass was nearly back to its post-winter length. Subsequently getting the grass back down to its normal maintainable state has proved challenging, particularly as we have been using mulching mowers for the past two years.

Whilst mulching mowers provide numerous benefits, they don't cope so well with long wet grass and in some cases they have left excessive clippings behind. This has been a main point of contention with our customers.

To resolve this, our contractors will undertake grass collecting on the worst affected sites until this excess is reduced.

They have been working hard to catch up, including working some Saturdays and bank holidays, and provided the weather stabilises, I am optimistic we will achieve a good standard of grass soon.

Weed spraying has been another victim of the wet weather. This can only be done effectively during still dry conditions, so some sites are a little behind in this area.

The relatively dry weather this week has allowed the contractors to resume spraying and improvements are expected over the next few weeks.

Most other issues are what you would expect of a new-contract bedding-in period and we are working with residents and contractors to achieve the standard we would all expect.

The majority of customers I have spoken to are understanding and supportive and for those that have issues, I ask for their patience.

John Williams,

Technical and Property Services Manager,

Magna West Somerset Housing Association,

Roughmoor,