Grass cutting services are set to be extended by South Lanarkshire Council – but householders are being warned that it will take weeks to clear the backlog.
It comes after furious calls from East Kilbride residents and local councillors for overgrown residential areas to be tackled as a matter of urgency.
Independent councillor Jim Wardhaugh slammed SLC for failing to touch many open spaces in the town saying other local authorities and organisations such as Transerv had managed to resume more extensive grass cutting safely.
And the East Kilbride News were inundated with messages from angry residents demanding action, calling the town an “unsightly mess”.
Some open spaces including recreation areas and cemeteries have been given a trim but many open grassy areas have grown several feet long in lockdown leading to fears of vermin and safety concerns for pets and young children in particular.
The council have been working on a plan to reintroduce further grass maintenance on general open spaces.
It is understood a wider programme of general grass cutting could begin from July 27.
But Councillor Wardhaugh has said it is “too little to late”
He said: “It is a disgrace the way this has been handled.
“And if the council are looking for a pat on the back from me they can forget it.
“I have been told it will take them at least 12-weeks just to catch up.
“And that will no doubt change if we get a prolonged spell of rain as there is limited machinery that can cut the grass when it is wet.
“I have been inundated with calls from residents about how badly overgrown areas are.
“I put forward a plan whereby council staff went to a site and the machinery was delivered to them back in April and I was told it wasn’t possible – now it seems that is exactly what they plan to do.
“They could have done it weeks ago – they simply decided not to.”
Maintenance of schools, social work and housing complexes and areas around play areas has resumed as has the Council Care of Garden scheme.
A SLC spokesman said: “We are currently working our way through preparations for the next phase of the recovery of services, including open space grass cutting.
“Once we have all the details finalised we will communicate what our plans are through the usual council channels.”
