Elderly cut up over plans to axe garden services
THE decision to axe a garden maintenance service for the elderly and vulnerable in Glasgow for the rest of the year has been blasted as “heartless”.
Council chiefs have decided to suspend the Assisted Garden Maintenance service for the remainder of 2021 after it was paused last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It means that those over the age of 70 and those who are housebound will no longer receive visits from council teams who help them to look after their gardens.
A charity volunteer said one of the housebound people he was helping would benefit greatly from having her garden tidied up.
The volunteer – who wished to remain anonymous – said he had been trying to persuade the council to restore her previous maintenance.
He said: “Like so many others, this person’s mental and physical wellbeing would be boosted by having her garden tidied up so she can enjoy being outside.
“The council’s policy means such people will remain cooped up in their own home even after pandemic restrictions are eased further.
“It beggars belief.” Conservative councillor Euan Blockley said: “Considering the fantastic
progress being made in the vaccine roll out and plans to further ease restrictions over the course of the coming weeks and months, I am unclear what justification there is for continuing an indefinite
suspension of such a crucial council service.
“If this is just a cost-cutting exercise as a result of the administration’s refusal to adequately resource our services, then Glasgow residents will rightly be asking how long they have to wait until they start getting some value for money for the taxes they pay.”
The service allows recipients to receive up to seven grass cuts and two hedge trims per year.
A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “A garden maintenance service has always been in addition to the standard services provided by the council.
“Many other councils have either scrapped their garden maintenance service or often charge householders an annual fee for the gardening work undertaken.
“We are currently looking at other options where assistance could be offered.”
The council’s policy means such people will remain cooped up