Complaints over grass mowing cutbacks

Grass is growing unabated in many areas.

Earlier this year administration councillors opted to slash the service by 10 per cent as part of a package of £1.686 million in cuts.

But the implications are now being felt across the area, as previously neat areas of grassland are left to grow unabated.

Previously residents from the Alloway Grove and Waterside areas of Kirkintilloch had complained about safety issues - including hidden dog mess and uneven ground causing tumbles.

Others have now joined the chorus of disapproval.

On the Herald’s Facebook page Suzanne Thomson said: “You can’t even walk through the kids play park at Beechtree, in Milton of Campsie. The grass is ridiculous.

“They have spent all that money tarmacing the railway line but the access paths to get there have almost overgrown.

“Don’t get me started on the other public areas in the village.”

And residents in Lennoxtown are also up in arms over the changes.

Brian Glen said: “Lennoxtown looks as if it has been abandoned. The graveyard and the High Park are embarrassing.”

Meanwhile, back in Kirkintilloch, it’s claimed a narrow mowed strip through an area of long grass between Hillhead and Harestanes is now being used by speeding motorcyclists - a potential danger to walkers and children.

Grace Irvine, the council’s director of neighbourhood services. said: “When selecting areas, Streetscene staff have applied a number of criteria to assess this, including looking at areas susceptible to flooding, those which have biodiversity rich grassland and those where the visual impact of any reduction of grass cutting would be minimal.

Officers have identified these area, many of which are within fields and parklands. Large swathes of grassed areas were not selected, however patches within these sites were identified that could be deliberately kept un-cut. The aim of the exercise has been to find sites that have the lowest impact in terms of visibility, while making the necessary savings.”