The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
More grAss cuttings Agreed After reAders’ complAints
Council leader admits mistake in trimming budget
The leader of Peterborough City Council has admitted that reducing the number of grass cuttings in public places was a mistake. Councillor John Holdich said he will put £13,000 back into the service after several people complained to the Peterborough Telegraph about grass being up to a metre high in some places.
The decision comes a few weeks after the council leader admitted pictures of flytipping sent into the PT had persuadedhimtosetupaGrot Spot Hotline.
Writing for the PT today, Cllr Holdich said the policy on grass cuttings was being “reversed.”
He added: “An important part of my job as leader is to give credit where it’s due and, when we’ve made a wrong move, to call it out and take steps to put things right.
“As you know, ongoing reductions to local government budgets mean we’ve had to make difficult choices to save money.
“Occasionally, a decision onpapermayseemlikeagood one, but later turns out not to work in practice.”
Cuttings took place over the past few days in public spaces in Werrington, Paston, OrtonGoldhayandOrtonMalborne, withmorestilltocome.
However, the PT has received further complaints from readers about lengthy grass.
Ann Kirton visited Peterborough Crematorium on Monday morning to lay flowers where her son’s ashes were scattered in the wood where the bluebells grow in the spring.
Shesaid: “Todays’ visit just added to our grief. You could not evensee wherewelaidthe flowers. Wehadtogobackand stand them against the tree.
“We have in the past laid flowers and spent a few moments in thought but today it just seemed really sad as we could not actually see the place where we said our last goodbye.”
Theresa Ambler said her daughter spent two hours in A&E after she had a severe allergic reaction to the long grass i n Gostwick, Orton Brimbles.
Aspartofthe2015/16council budget, a £24,000 cut was agreed to reduce the number of grass cuttings in some areas fromeight to three, but that number will now increase. APeterboroughCityCouncillor claimslarge trees will cause an accident in Haddon Road, West Town, as they are blocking the view of road users.
Cllr Gul Nawaz, memberfor Ravensthorpe, said: “Those trees are very, very dangerous on the corners. Some of them are higher than the houses. I’ve had a lot of complaints.
“This has been going on since I becameacouncillor in 2002.
“Accidents are going to happen. The trees need to be trimmed.”
Council officers were meeting with Cllr Nawaz yesterday, and a spokeswoman for the authority said: “We will look at his concerns and will work with him on any suitable resolutions, in line with council policy.”