Verges and grassed areas to be improved following complaints
PLANS to reinstate funding to tackle ‘public realm’ works have been hailed by council bosses.
Councillor Ken Moss, cabinet member for parks and open spaces in Hyndburn, said they have received an ‘increased number of emails from the public expressing dissatisfaction’ over the appearance of certain grassed areas, trees and roadside verges.
The council said it has experience ‘severe cuts’ to the public realm budget allocated by Lancashire County Council (LCC), however this decision has now been reversed by the new leader Geoff Driver.
Coun Moss said: “We simply don’t have the money to cut certain areas as much as we would like and quite understandably this has led to complaints from residents.
“I contacted Coun Driver to point out the knock-on effects such as unsightly areas, increased flytipping and pet fouling and was delighted to find that he agreed with me.
“He has assured me that he will reinstate the public realm budget as soon as possible and I would like to thank him for his support.”
Coun Driver said public realm budgets were one of his election pledges and it that it will be ‘reinstated as soon as possible’.