A YEAR after Kier took over as street service providers, few improvements have been made, residents have said.

A total of 300 rectification notices, or notices to improve substandard work, were served during the first six months of Kier's contract, as well as 66 default notices.

Default notices are served if work is not brought up to scratch within 24 hours and carry a £50 punitive deduction.

Kier took over the contract in June 2008 and hundreds of residents complained of unswept streets and mounting levels of litter.

Since then, the Guardian has continued to receive complaints about the quality and regularity of service, including claims that residents are resorting to sweeping the streets themselves.

Tim James, 39, of Mersey Road, Walthamstow, said: “I've been complaining for about a year, on and off.

“As I'm coming home, I'm picking up rubbish. The state of the street is getting worse and worse.”

Mr James claimed his street became "ankle deep" with leaves in autumn and winter.

"People are constantly fly-tipping and there's always a shopping trolley at the end of the street," he said.

"I'm ashamed and embarrassed because of the state of the street.

"There's a principle here - I'm paying for a service and I'm not getting it."

James McCauley, a photographer, of Lloyd Road, added: “My street's still pretty scruffy. There's still a lot of stuff being dumped in the street and litter is building up quite quickly.”

And Darren O'Grady, of the Waltham Forest Trades Council, said that service had declined across the borough since Kier took the contract, leaving streets in “appalling” condition.

He said: “It was a financial decision and it's been very poor for the workforce. It's also been terrible for the rest of us that have dirty streets.

“It must be a small minority who think there have been improvements.”

But some people say they have noticed improvements in the last six months, after repeated complaints to the council.

Ian Wade, 48, of Northcote Road, Walthamstow, who works in IT, said: “They've really kept on top of it.

“Only the other day, I was thinking they do come and clear up the hotspots.”

And cabinet member for environment Cllr Bob Belam also stated the number of complaints was down since Kier began work in the borough.

He said: “Kier have changed the way in which they work. They've brought in mechanical devices to do some of the work and they've put extra resources in.

“This is all at a cost to Kier and not to the residents of Waltham Forest.”