A PENSIONER involved in an ongoing hedge dispute with the council insists his front garden has never been as bad during his 50 years living in the area.

91-year-old Cecil John McMonigle paid West Dunbartonshire Council £100 at the start of the year.

The Linnvale resident believed the cash entitled him to six cuts of his front grass and two cuts of his hedges.

On the council's Care of Garden Scheme website on July 28, it stated gardens will be maintained by the local authority between April and October as part of the venture and that hedges within the boundary of the garden will be cut 'at least once' during this time.

However, the council told the Clydebank Post the scheme offers only one hedge cut per year.

Clydebank Post: Neighbours offered to cut the hedge but he refused - insisting the council do what he paid them to doNeighbours offered to cut the hedge but he refused - insisting the council do what he paid them to do (Image: Tom Grant)

Clydebank Post: The hedge has been cut once this year, but won't be again due to council policyThe hedge has been cut once this year, but won't be again due to council policy (Image: Tom Grant)

Clydebank Post: Mr McMonigle can't cut the hedge due to mobility issuesMr McMonigle can't cut the hedge due to mobility issues (Image: Tom Grant)

During a recent visit by the Post, Mr McMonigle explained he was told by the council they would only be doing the hedge once shortly after he paid them - resulting in his garden being left in a ‘mess'.

He said: “It’s never been like this. Ask any of my neighbours here on this street and they will tell you my garden is always beautiful.

“The grass is always lovely cut, and the hedge is done as well.”

Mr McMonigle - who lives alone and uses a frame to aid his mobility – went on to say his thoughtful neighbours visited recently to offer to cut the hedge for him.

But he declined the proposal, maintaining WDC should provide him with what he paid for.

“It shouldn’t be like that if you are paying £100,” added the homeowner.

“I’ve phoned them three times. The thing is they said, ‘Oh, birds are nesting, this is the time.’

“What a load of rubbish. I’m 50 years up here and never had this carry-on.”

As the hedge has already been cut this year, Mr McMonigle fears the hedge will be left to continue to get ‘out of control.’

A council spokesperson said: "The council charges £100 for its Care of Garden Scheme which consists of garden maintenance between April and October.

"This includes six grass cuts and edges strimmed.

"Hedges within the boundary of the garden will be cut at least once during this time."

When pressed on whether the 'at least once' terminology could be somewhat confusing to people, the council maintained this was the correct term to use.