Councillor assured over ‘No Mow May’

A COUNCILLOR says he has received assurances over plans next month for a ‘No Mow May’ in selected areas of Redcar and Cleveland.

Redcar and Cleveland Council plans to limit grass cutting in some locations as part of a national campaign to promote biodiversity and help wildlife. The council said it had carefully chosen locations to provide space for grass to grow and to encourage the likes of bees and butterflies.

Coun Steve Kay said he had “suspected the main incentive was money saving” and it was the “thin end of the wedge”.

He raised a concern about the impact on Charltons, a village off the A171 near Guisborough, which forms part of his rural Lockwood ward, although he had now received reassurances from the council about what would be cut there next month. Other locations identified by the local authority to take part include the Stray in Marske and the King George V playing field in Guisborough.

Coun Kay said: “There’s a lot of grass on the front and also a massive field with a play area at the back. The intention was not to cut three quarters of the grass, leaving out big areas and [No Mow May] was just the start – this is the way it was put across in an email.

“It’s supposed to be saving the planet and all the rest of it, but if some grass is allowed to grow it would end up full of dog muck and litter and small children would not be able to play.”

Coun Kay said the terraced properties in the village, which are former miners’ cottages, lacked their own gardens and they needed to retain well-cut open outside spaces particularly for children to play in. A petition with 60 signatures was gathered by residents in protest following a meeting at a community centre in Charltons.

The council said grass cutting will still take place as normal throughout the borough on roadside verges, housing estates, cemeteries, and playgrounds.