'We have to pay service charge to live near lake - what is it spent on?'

A group of residents are refusing to pay a service charge to maintain a lake due to what they believe is a lack of transparency over how the money is spent.

Many householders and businesses in the Lakeside area of Doncaster are subject to the levy, which Doncaster Council said funds the upkeep of the area.

Residents agreed to the levy, which is in addition to their council tax, when they bought their homes, but are calling on the council to disclose what it covers.

Steven Webster also feels those who are subject to the charge are "paying for everyone to use the lake", which is a public recreation area.

Webster, 65, moved into his home on Winscar Road around a decade ago. The estate is one of a number of new private housing developments that surround the artificial lake, which has become a popular local leisure destination.

Despite still receiving invoices, Webster stopped paying the service charge "four or five" years ago over a lack of "transparency".

"I've never, ever said I'm not responsible for paying because I am. I just want to know what it's for.

"The lake is a public space and can be used by anyone.

"Why is it fair that residents pay for the maintenance of something that is open to the public?"

Reform councillor Chris Kidger, who represents the Bessacarr ward, said the lake area was in "appalling" condition.

Doncaster Council recently closed footbridges connecting the paths to small islands in the middle of the water due to safety concerns.

Webster added: "The bridges are just one thing; the side walls are falling in, there were dead birds floating in the water this morning. It is in disrepair."

He called on the council to itemise how the service charge was spent.

"All I want to know is what it is for – tell me what is different to my council tax."

Julie McLatchie told the BBC she had been trying to seek clarity over the service charge since she bought her Winscar Road home almost 10 years ago.

McLatchie, 63, claimed her efforts have been fruitless and, as a result, she stopped paying the levy in 2018.

"I am quite prepared to pay it, but I want to know what I'm paying for.

"I've asked why we pay more for what is a public area that everybody can access – it's not just residents – and nobody can give you an answer."

A third Winscar Road resident, 61-year-old Wayne Goddard, paid the service charge for the first time not long after moving into his home in November 2016.

But Goddard, who called the levy "unfair", has refused to pay it since.

He said: "I've never been chased, no legal letters, no banging on my door.

"I have signed my covenant, I'll pay, but what is it for?

"I'm told it's for the maintenance of the lake. Well, it's not my lake, it's a community asset."

Councillor Kidger added: "We don't know where residents' money goes.

"We don't what pot it's in, we don't know how much is in that pot, we don't know what that pot is used for - and we can't find out."

The BBC put residents' concerns to the council.

Its executive director for place, Dan Swaine, said: "The Lakeside service charge contributes towards the delivery of many essential services for the area, including maintenance, infrastructure and landscaping works, as well as the implementation of key safety measures and various other environmental improvements.

"It was originally calculated in 2004 and was decided based on the estimated annual costs for delivering all these activities, as well as for supporting the management of the wider estate."

Swaine said while the council understood the frustrations of those who pay the levy, given Lakeside "is indeed a public space meant to be enjoyed by everyone", it was "important to note that many of the things it covers are explicitly for the benefit of those residents and businesses that are based in the area".

He added: "Listening to concerns, the council is now looking into how these arrangements are communicated in the future, so that information can be provided in a clearer and more meaningful way. Further details will be communicated at a later date."

Not all households and businesses are subject to the same charges, and the amounts vary depending on the legal agreement attached to each property or development plot.

The liability to pay the service charge also depends on the terms of individual leases, transfers and legal agreements, the council added.

Local property firm Barnsdales acts as the managing agent for service charge billing and collection for the Winscar Road development.

Winscar Road residents are billed by and pay Barnsdales, which then sends the money to the the council.

However, other developments, including the nearby Willow Grange estate, have residents who are billed directly by the council.

A spokesperson for Barnsdales said: "Barnsdales collect the service charge for the site on behalf of Doncaster Council.

"It is a collection-only service, we administer no services for the site.

"The service charge monies are paid over to the council who deal with the site requirements."

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