By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
There are concerns Cheltenham is looking “exceedingly neglected” due to a “very poor standard” of grass cutting.
Questions have been raised this week over when the quality and care of the spa town’s green environment will be improved.
But Cheltenham Borough Council chiefs have rejected the suggestion that the town is looking neglected and have thanked Ubico staff for doing their best to maintain standards during the recent hot weather.
Former Mayor Anne Regan asked why the town is “looking exceedingly neglected” in a written question to council leaders published on July 20.
She said that grass cutting in particular is of “very poor standard” and that there are “clumps of dead grass lying along the roads and a danger to blocked drains”.
“There are also huge patches on the ornamental grassed areas in Warden Hill left uncut which [are] almost 2ft high in places and dead,” the former Conservative councillor said.
“The epicormic growth around the base of trees along the Gloucester Road and Lansdown Road have not been pruned back for years – the entrance roads to our town are looking very poor and unkempt.
“The quality and care of our green environment need a re-boost – when will this happen?
Liberal Democrat Councillor Steve Harvey, who is responsible for parks, gardens and other public open spaces in Cheltenham, said in his written response to her that he did not agree that the town looks neglected.
He explained that the weather has been particularly challenging this year with a very wet spell followed by a longer period of very dry and hot weather.
“We all know from our gardens at home that this is difficult to manage and more so when it is borough-wide,” the Charlton Park councillor said.
“I would like to thank all the Ubico staff who have been working outside in very hot weather this year doing their best to maintain standards.
“The first grass cut of the season is always untidier as the grass is longer to cut. We do try to coincide our street sweeper in areas where we have cut the grass to clear it but that isn’t always possible as sometimes it is needed elsewhere; for example, in advance of heavy rain, street sweepers are deployed in flood risk roads so may not be able to sweep up the grass.
“Our resources are limited and deployed based on operational priorities. We work closely with Gloucestershire County Council, who are responsible for drains and drain clearance, to deliver road gulley cleaning.”
He also said officers have inspected Hatherley and Warden Hill verges and confirm that they are currently at the correct cutting height.
However, dried grasses and flowering weeds are taller and will be strimmed as part of their maintenance programme over the summer, he added.
Cllr Harvey also said it was difficult to provide more information on her concerns over the ornamental grassed areas in Warden Hill.
“You may be referring to areas designated to be wild flower or meadow areas, including locations such as Broad Oak Way, Symphony Road and Chargrove Lane Open Space, which are intentionally managed differently to support biodiversity.
“Some areas are left uncut throughout the season, with only fire breaks maintained, while others are cut later in the year or left temporarily to allow spring bulbs to die back and recover nutrients.
“I have passed on your comments regarding the removal of epicormic growth around trees to Gloucestershire Highways as they are responsible for this, not Cheltenham Borough Council.
“I would, however, like to say that this year’s weather is unusually hot and dry and this may have influenced decisions relating to shade around tree roots.
“As climate change is taking hold, we need to rethink many things. Interestingly, un-cut grass in our open spaces is good for soil, plants, ecosystems and, importantly, trees.”
Cllr Harvey also said the gateway routes into the town continue to be mechanically swept as regularly as they have been for years to maintain standards.
“The grass verges have been cut roughly every 25-30 days this year so far, partly due to the weather conditions, equipment breakdowns and staff absence.
“Many of our gateway routes cannot be cut too early due to bulb planting.”