A Rutherglen homeowner has accused South Lanarkshire Council of treating his elderly and vulnerable neighbours badly, after groundsmen left their surroundings in a “terrible state” after a “job half done.”
Ted Scanlon’s home on Kirkriggs Way overlooks a sheltered housing accommodation block, which is home to 12 tenants.
Unlike the residents in the council complex – some of whom are ill, frail and require help from carers – Mr Scanlon and fellow homeowners in the street are able to tend to their gardens.
Although the council did mow the unkempt grass surrounding the block when lockdown eased, they failed to remove the cuttings or tackle the overgrown borders.
When Drumchapel housing association community worker Mr Scanlon acted on their behalf by contacting MSP James Kelly and the Reformer over the issue, the council sprang into action by sending a team to tidy the area up.
Insisting he is not demanding action for his own benefit, Mr Scanlon said: “It’s been a quick job. It was cut and left there. They put the machinery over it and ran away. There’s a sharp contrast between home owners’ front gardens and the complex.
“The council should take care of these people, some of whom are extremely vulnerable. They can’t cut the grass. It should have been done properly, out of respect. I think these people have been very badly treated.”
He continued: “It is not good for people’s mental health. They have all come through the lockdown process. They want to see something nice from their windows. I know quite a lot of these people and really care for them. I do not like the way they have been treated.”
James Kelly MSP also expressed his disappointment at the situation and said: “I am pleased that the council have returned to the upkeep of grass areas as it is an issue many constituents had raised with me during lock down.
“While it’s understandable that because of the short pause in these jobs being carried out there is a backlog, that does not mean the standard of work should be allowed to drop.
“This particularly example is disappointing. Residents have been left upset with a job half finished and a mess. I’ve written to the council and requested they rectify it.”
Anne Marie Daley, a 61-year-old tenant in the sheltered complex says it’s not just the grounds that are causing residents concern.
“The whole surrounding area is in a bad state,” she said. “My place has been letting in water twice in the bedroom, and I have asthma.
‘We had a residents’ meeting about everyone’s issues and it got really quite heated. A lot of the residents are older than me. The council just fob us off every chance they get. We need a bit of TLC here.”
Meanwhile, a Fernhill resident – who appeared with her neighbours in the Reformer last month when she likened a communal area in Craignure Road to “wild Savannah plains” – is outraged at the mess left by council workers who recently cut the grass.
Carole Stewart said: “I have just returned from few days up north to see the public grass areas have been cut. I’m disgusted with the level of service the council feel is acceptable. No grass has been lifted.”
Head of facilities, waste and grounds Services, Alistair McKinnon, said: “We were made aware of a request to go back and cut the grass last week.
“We did do this but unfortunately due to the length of the grass and the time taken to cut it we are not in a position to lift all grass cuttings.We will revisit the area when we complete the existing programme of work.”
