A childminder has accused Braintree Council of incompetence saying she is still waiting for repairs to her home more than three months after reporting them.

She claims she has phoned the council at least eight times and on two occasions, workmen have failed to turn up at an agreed time.

Denise Rowe, of Godric Road, Witham, first reported a loose tile hanging from the front of her house, a rotting door frame and problems with a new shed door on January 26.

But, she said, every time she has contacted Braintree Council she has been disappointed by their response.

Mrs Rowe said: "The council takes pride in publishing how it spends council tax money but what they omit is the amount they spend under the heading 'waste of money and incompetence'.

"These cases seem to be comic but comedy quickly changes to tragedy when you multiply these incidents by the number of council tenants and think of the money it's costing the tax payer.

"I'm so frustrated because no matter who I write to nothing seems to get done. The people I speak to are apologetic but when I follow it up with them they don't seem to know what's going on."

Nick Champion, Braintree Council's public relations officer, stressed repairs were funded from rents collected and not council tax.

He said: "We attempt to provide the best possible service but, unfortunately, things occasionally go wrong. We would like to offer our apologies to Mrs Rowe.

"Braintree Council carries out more than 30,000 repairs each year and some 95 per cent of urgent calls are completed within the Government time limits."

In 1999 nine out of ten tenants said they were satisfied with the overall service provided by the council, he added.

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