LOCAL plant hire company Viper Hire has been contracted to take over maintenance of Rockwell Green’s Grade II listed water towers.

The move comes after years of complaints about alleged neglect since the structures were bought at auction by London-based property boss Anwar Ansari.

The water towers are recognised by the Victorian Society as one of the top 10 ‘most endangered’ historic buildings in Britain.

The society was concerned the towers were at risk from a ‘jungle’ of weeds which were growing around the bases of the structures.

Now, Mr Ansari has contracted Wellington start-up firm Viper Hire after coming across the company on a community social media page.

Viper’s team immediately set to work and completed a clean-up operation the following day.

Tom Caughey, who co-founded Viper with partner Annie Burdick, said: “He told us to clean it whenever it needs doing, but ultimately it is up to him when it gets cleared.”

Mr Caughey said Mr Ansari was visiting Wellington to make restoration plans for the towers, including the construction of a wooden fence around the site.

Since Mr Ansari purchased the towers in 2013, concern about their condition has been expressed by heritage groups, local residents, and councillors.

Last year, Somerset Council stepped in to complete maintenance work on the towers and billed Mr Ansari for the cost.

Despite owning a property portfolio with an estimated value of £170 million, Labour Party donor Mr Ansari failed to pay the bill in full, forcing the council to instruct debt collectors before it was settled.