Resident brands Council's grass cutting service 'appalling'

Jul 4 2011 By Camilla Goodman

Bucks County Council

A RESIDENT is fuming with Bucks County Council (BCC) after he describes the quality of work for cutting the grass outside his house as 'appalling.'

Angry resident David Shea, who lives in Orchard Leigh, Chesham, is fed up with the standard of work carried out by an external gardening company hired by BCC.

He has used up hours of his time contacting BCC to tell him he is unhappy with the work and to try and rectify the problem, however seven months down the line nothing has been done.

Mr Shea said: "I'm absolutely stunned that tax payer's money is being squandered in this way.

"It's ridiculous. I've never put so much effort into getting something so minor done. All I want is my damn grass cut. I cut more down when parking my car than they do in their machines!

"A lot of people are annoyed. I thought it was my street but it's broader than that. I know it's not a big issue in the grand scheme of things and people will wonder why I'm complaining about my grass being cut but I've paid for it. It's appalling."

Mr Shea explained when he moved into the area the company did not turn up at all to mow the grass.

He said: "My neighbours said they don't cut the grass so I phoned up and they said we were left off the rota and they would sort it, which was fair enough. Then they turned up and I did not notice they had been. They were here about 30 seconds. The nettles are shoulder high. They are not delivering a simple service. They really are taking the mick.

"At a time when money is tight they [BCC] should be spending their money appropriately on a company that can do the job.

"It doesn't need more money throwing at it to sort the problem, the council just need to monitor it and get them to do their job."

Mark Averill of Transport for Buckinghamshire said: "We're obviously very sorry that people don't feel there is much difference between before and after in Chesham. We've a project of 12 cuts a year, which is once every two or three weeks during grass cutting season and we've been working to that. We did have a problem in Chesham when we took over - some of the areas were not on the job list. All in all we're working to the programme and keeping it down."

What do you think? Are you pleased with the service or would you like to see it improved? Email camillagoodman@trinitysouth.co.uk.