Has the estate been taken over yet by the Council? If not and I am open to correction I was under the impression that the builder had to maintain the estate. sorry if this is incorrect but someone informed me that this was the case.
you are indeed correct!
The builder is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of open spaces until such time as he asks the council to take the estate into charge.
We kept our developer maintaining the open spaces as he would not furnish a letter to allow us to plant shrubs on the open spaces. He had later plans for more houses on these spaces during the time of "Greed" but we sucessfully won our case (3 times).
Eventually he had no option but to start the process to have the council take the estate into charge.
Factually, the responsibility for maintaining the open spaces should be indicated within the "grant of permission".
If not, have the council confirm he has requested the estate be taken into charge (probably not) or have him furnish a letter to that effect or to declare that the residents can have the legal title of ownership until such time the council take it over (he probably will not do this).
If both these avenues fail, call the planning enforcement officer and tell him that the developer has declared he will not maintain the space, quote chapter and verse from the "grant of permission" and threaten councillor intervention if this does not work.
Trust me this works, no one can afford grass cutting fees at the moment and it is a pain to collect from residents unless you have ownership of the spaces. Then you can apply for the amenity grant to assist but thats another story...............and too late if you live in Meath as the final date of application was today!
One of lifes learning tales, sorry if it is too long!