A defiant nurse has refused to pay her housing estate’s service charge for four years despite being threatened with legal action.

Christine Curtis says she is ignoring demands for money as play areas at The Oaze in Whitstable have fallen into disrepair and are not being maintained.

Residents are still being charged for the upkeep of the parks despite what she claims has been years of neglect.

But Anthem Management, which is responsible for the estate, says it can only provide services at “the highest level” if people pay their contribution.

Ms Curtis, who works at Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital, has collected a portfolio of photographic evidence over the past four years showing what she says is a lack of maintenance and repairs.

“They have increased the service charge to more than £200 a year, which is to everyone on the estate,” the 54-year-old said.

“They told me [one of the parks] was an active play area and I said in the 15 years I have lived here, I have never seen children there and I have never seen maintenance workers in there.”

Ms Curtis, who owns a three-bedroom house on the estate, has pictures showing dirt and mould she says has been on play park equipment since she started taking pictures - and stopped paying the charges - in 2020.

When KentOnline visited the site on Tuesday, we discovered rusty nails and splintering wood on a climbing frame, and a broken bin resting against a fence.

On the other side of the estate is another playground which has been cordoned off as it has cracked safety surfacing, broken apparatus and equipment being swallowed up by overgrown foliage.

The gate has been padlocked shut and has a ‘no entry’ sign.

Ms Curtis, who has received payment demands from solicitors, said: “I was told they need my cash so they can do up the play area, so I asked about all the money I had already given them.

“I will not give cash upfront if they have done nothing in four years.

“They have not even sent a cleaner.

“I live alone and they frighten you by sending solicitor letters.

“But enough is enough as they keep asking me for money, but they are not doing anything.”

A letter sent to residents in March by Anthem Management – formerly Fell Reynolds - stated the total service charge for the estate will be £17,982 for the next financial year, with each household told to cough up £216.65 to cover the costs.

This is a 27% increase on the previous year, when the charge was £170.56.

This year’s cost breakdown shows £8,500 for ground maintenance, £1,000 for play areas maintenance, and another £1,000 for repairs.

In one email seen by KentOnline, Anthem Management admits play park maintenance “has not been up to scratch in past years”.

“We are now trying to bring matters up to speed but that does involve having to raise funds,” the message to Ms Curtis states.

“I am sorry this is the case and for us to have an action plan we do need to ask you to pay your dues.”

Anthem Management has told Ms Curtis she owes £719.20 for unpaid service fees, which includes a £39 charge for having to send a follow-up letter in October last year.

A spokesperson for the firm told KentOnline: “Each year we prepare and share a service charge budget which sets out in detail the anticipated works to be carried out with all residents.

“We are committed to providing services at the highest level, which relies entirely on people paying their contribution to the service charge.

“If that doesn’t happen, we unfortunately have to prioritise the services provided.”