Long grass due to 'hazardous' conditions

10:21pm Friday 22nd August 2008

Comments (9)   Have your say »

OVERGROWN grass verges this summer are a result of "extremely hazardous" grass cutting conditions, Chiltern District Council have said.

A statement released by the council said that the grass had not been trimmed as frequently due to the wet weather.

It said that among the dangers of "wet grass" were that it "jams the machinery and the operational pedals of ride-on mowers become wet and slippery."

The council cuts grass within the urban areas of the towns and villages in Chiltern District, around some public buildings and highway verges on behalf of Buckinghamshire County Council.

Rachel Prance, spokeswoman for CDC said: "Normally we cut the grass verges twelve times a year and this works out at a three week cycle.

"Due to the rain and the soggy ground conditions, we have lost 61 working days of the scheduled 125 working days of grass cutting between April and mid-August, that's almost 50%.

"The grass-cutting season traditionally ran from April through to September, with the most intense growth occurring in the spring months.

"Climatic changes have resulted in a significant increase in this season and this together with the increased amount of rainfall has reduced the opportunities to cut the grass."

She added the council were "pre-empting" complaints from residents who may be annoyed about long grass by extending the cutting schedule.

Peter Woodburn, CDC's head of engineering and contract management, said: "As the grass now continues to grow well into the autumn, we have extended our schedules to continue cutting grass into November and possibly into December.

"We are also extending the working week using Saturdays to catch up when the weather permits."

For further information about the grass cutting contract in the Chiltern District area call 01494 732053 or email: wastemanagement@chiltern.gov.uk