PLANS to revitalise neglected community gardens have reached deadlock because of a row between two councils.

Canvey Town Council wants to improve the adjoining Sensory Gardens and Bumblebee Park, off Furtherwick Road, which have battered fences, chipped paint work and broken benches.

The gardens are run by Castle Point Council, which is asking the town authority to fork out £500 for a three-year lease for the two community areas.

The charge has infuriated members of the town council, who want to know why they should cough up when they say the borough authority has neglected the area for years.

Talks have been deadlocked since January, and town councillors again refused to pay the charge at a meeting of the authority’s environment committee on Monday night.

Peter May, town councillor for Winter Gardens ward, said: “It makes my blood boil that Castle Point wants us to pay them for something they have failed to do anything to.

”They’ve left it in such an appalling state, they should be paying us £500 to take it over.

“I think it’s an insult to all of us, and an insult to Canvey.”

Joan Liddiard, chairwoman of the town council, said: “We are offering to take over something Castle Point is currently responsible for.

“They spend £7,000 a year maintaining the gardens, so why should we pay twice?”

Some councillors suggested it was better to pay the fee and get on with improving the gardens, but the committee voted to ask the borough authority to reconsider the charge. It is not the first time the two authorities have fallen out over the transfer of assets.

It took the pair almost three years to reach an agreement to allow Canvey Town Council to take over the running of Canvey Lake in February 2010.

David Marchant, chief executive of Castle Point Council, said: “Of course we will consider this request, but we are a little surprised as we met with the former chairman of Canvey Town Council and the clerk to explain the reasons behind this cost.

“It is a licence fee which covers the three years of the agreement.”

Bumblebee Park, a landscaped area of Labworth Park near Canvey seafront, was designed to pay homage to the rare Shrill Carder bumblebee, which is found on the island. The Sensory Garden is an adjoining area, designed for disabled people.