A council is to write to all major housebuilders asking them to reconsider transferring land to a controversial management company.

Aberdeenshire Council is asking the housebuilders to think again if they are planning to transfer ownership or management of open space to Greenbelt Group, the Glasgow-based firm which has been highlighted in The Herald over levels of dissatisfaction with its service.

The council is also asking developers to halt the process if they have already suggested that the open spaces within their developments are to be transferred to or managed by the company.

Such has been the level of discontent with Greenbelt's performance across the UK that an action group has been formed to promote a change in the law which will allow residents to be freed from legal agreements with Greenbelt if they are unhappy with the service for which they pay.

This week Aberdeenshire Council unanimously supported a motion by Westhill and District councillor Amanda Allan to contact the housebuilders.

The meeting heard that other councillors in Aberdeenshire have received complaints from residents of estates where green spaces are managed by the company.

Ms Allan said the problem was that the company's name was written into the title deeds of houses and that it could not be sacked if it was not fulfilling its obligations. Homeowners required to take legal action and if they decided not to pay because they had not received the service they expected, they could face legal action.

"Most of the homeowners would actually be satisfied with this arrangement if the Greenbelt Group fulfilled their side of the bargain, but frequently this is far from the case," she said. "In my ward alone, the town of Westhill has three estates affected by poor maintenance of open spaces which are managed by Greenbelt Group."

She said there have also been problems all over Aberdeenshire, including in Ellon, Laurencekirk, Kintore, Oldmeldrum and Newmachar, where East Garioch councillor Fergus Hood tried to get Greenbelt to clear an overgrown area before finally cutting it himself.

Aberdeenshire Council will also write to Greenbelt Group to ask it to make sure it is providing the service required of it by homeowners in the developments where it is in control of open spaces.

Ms Allan urged developers to reconsider ever using the company in future, claiming it consistently failed in its promises and urged Greenbelt to "raise its game".

Paula Hoogerbrugge, who set up the action group, said: "There appears to be a growing recognition among local authorities that this model for the care of public spaces is not working and is grossly unfair to homeowners."

Last night Alex Middleton, managing director of Greenbelt, said the company had not been contacted by Aberdeenshire Council or Councillor Allan.

He said Ms Allan had attended a public meeting in Westhill a month ago when he gave commitments for the future management and maintenance of the areas to which she referred.

"I have today sent out a letter outlining the progress Greenbelt has made since the meeting," he added.