ANGRY residents say they feel “incriminated” by council bosses after they were ordered to clean up an embankment they did not know was part of their land - or face prosecution.

Tenants and homeowners from 18 properties in Whycwood Gardens, High Wycombe, have been told by Wycombe District Council to remove debris from an embankment opposite their homes.

If they do not, the council has warned residents that it could bring in its own clean up team and then recover the cost of around £1,500 from the families in the courts.

But residents say they feel hard done by because the embankment is a “natural deposit” for litter and they did not know the embankment was part of their property.

They are now calling for council environmental bosses to use some “common sense” and sit down with residents in a bid to thrash out an “amicable settlement” to the situation.

Speaking on behalf of the residents, Zia Ullah said: “The residents are angry and appalled at how the council has so readily incriminated them.

“No-one can recall when or if the embankment has ever been swept or cleared of litter and some residents have been there ever since the site was built.

“The council has made no reference to the fact that the embankment unfortunately acts as a natural deposit for the every day highway debris and has become a spot for fly-tipping.

“And many of the residents were not aware of their ownership and responsibility for the embankment and some of the residents have been there from the first day of the build.

“They feel that they have been incriminated by the council and are now left facing potentially future costs and have no control over how or who litters the embankment.

“It is hoped that common sense is adhered to by the council and that any threat of charges and of prosecution from the environmental order are revoked and then we all sit down and look at ways of collectively working together to find an amicable settlement.”

WDC spokesman Catherine Spalton said the Land Registry plans showed that the properties each owned a small piece of land within the slope and were responsible for its upkeep.

The council contacted residents with 'suggestions on how to remedy the litter problems' which gave residents the option to clear the bank themselves, hire a contractor or the council would bring in its own team and divide up the cost between the properties.

She added: “Unfortunately we didn't hear from the residents by the specified deadline and the litter wasn't removed, which lead to us writing to them again with Litter Clearing Notices which outlined the need to clear the land.

“These notices now legally require the clearance of litter; failure to comply with the notice is an offence and in addition, clearance works in default could be carried out and costs recovered.

“However, we would welcome the opportunity to work with the residents of Wychwood Gardens over the coming weeks to find a mutually satisfactory solution to this problem, without the need to take the matter through legal proceedings.”