Clydebank mum's frustration over lack of grass cutting

Kim Berry told the Post that it has reportedly been a year since the grass bank in front of her Gavins Road home was last cut.

The mum-of-four explained that her children – who suffer from hay fever - can’t go out to play when the pollen count is high as they 'can’t even open their eyes’.

The grass on Gavins Road (Image: Newsquest Staff)

Kim said: “I’ve had to contact the GP a couple of times as all the kids suffer really badly when the pollen count is high.

“One of my boys never had hay fever before and this is the first spring/summer that he’s dealt with it and I’m blaming the lack of grass cutting.

“Last year we were promised that the grass would be cut three times a year, which it was but now without any warning, it’s just stopped.

“Our neighbours had to pay to get someone to cut the patch in front of their house but our argument is that we all pay our council tax.

“That grass doesn’t belong to us, we all look after our gardens. It’s council property and it has always been the council that looked after it.

“I can’t go through another spring or summer like that.”

On two occasions, Kim said her eldest child had to come home from school as she was so ill.

She was prescribed eye drops and a nasal spray in an effort to lessen the severity of her reaction.

Kim said that due to a lack of grass cutting her children were unable to go out to play on days when the pollen count was high (Image: Newsquest staff)

Kim is now calling on the council to trim the grass bank ahead of the winter months.

She added: “This year has been the worst. My eldest suffered badly and there were one or two days where she had to come home from school.

“She’d be fine in the house and then the minute she stepped outside she was ill. It restricted the kids from going out to play and they were stuck inside and bored.

“They were miserable. If my wee boy’s friends came by he wouldn’t be able to go out because he couldn’t open his eyes.

“I just hope it gets cut and is made to look more presentable.”

In March, we reported that West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) had met to set its budget for the next financial year in an effort to plug a £21 million funding gap.

During this meeting, councillors approved a budget-cutting measure that scrapped the maintenance of open space areas altogether - not including high amenity areas such as parks and sports facilities.

Previously, council workers carried out open space grass cutting every three weeks.

Documents from the meeting state this will save the local authority around £460k.

The grass has been trimmed around the edge (Image: Newsquest staff)

A WDC spokesperson said: "Following a budget meeting in March when the council had to take steps to close a £21million funding gap, a review of grounds maintenance was undertaken.

"As such, changes to the frequency of grass cutting have been introduced, as well as a reduction to open space cutting, which will save the council £460,000 each year.

"Teams will continue to maintain all open space edges around paths and near properties, and these areas will be litter picked as required.

"A programme to ensure the appearance of these areas is maintained is being developed, with planned planting of specimen trees, flowering bulbs and sowing wildflower seeds."