Parks staff error as green spaces spoiled in Pollokshields

Dog walkers in Pollokshields were shocked to find “ridiculous” brown patches surrounding trees in Maxwell Park.

They reported the issue to Glasgow City Council representatives, who said an error by parks workers had lead to the problem.

Geraldine Ferrie, who regularly walks her dog in the park, said another pet owner had contacted her about the issue.

“Everywhere’s brown, they’ve not missed a tree or bush. It’s ridiculous,” she said.

Ms Ferrie was told it was an error as the staff were meant to treat around the base of trees on grass plots outwith the park.

Council staff reassured her the chemicals would not be harmful to the trees.

However, she said: “It shouldn’t have happened in the first place.”

The dog walker also raised concerns over the state of the park, describing it as overgrown, adding: “The park has gone from wrack to ruin and back again.”

She was told there was a delay in maintenance due to parks staff assisting the council’s refuse department but workers had now returned to their normal duties.

Maintenance staff have previously claimed the city’s parks are being neglected because they are forced to help with bin collections.

Park teams said they were sent to help cleansing staff with refuse collections and bulk uplift, leaving them without time to carry out their own duties.

Other areas, including Kelvingrove Park and Victoria Park, have recently been criticised for being untended while King George V Park, in Carnwadric, has now come under fire.

One nearby resident said: “If you go in to the park with a five-year-old they will disappear under overgrown grass.

“I have stayed most of my life in this area, the local park has always been somewhere families with children could spend the day. Not now.

“The lack of maintenance means no public parks for children to play in during school holidays.”

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “The council is responsible for more than 90 parks and open spaces, the majority of which continue to be enjoyed by city residents.

“While we work exceptionally hard to keep them looking their best, the grass around the trees within Maxwell Park were treated in error and will grow back.

“We chemically treat around trees and other obstacles on our open space grass plots but tend not to do it within parks as it does not look nice.”