This week, The Journal has received calls by angry residents who are noticing grass verges and open spaces not being mowed as often as in previous years, or patches left untidy without explanation.

The Council says that this change is due to budget constraints, and, with fewer staff left to maintain green spaces, the frequency of cuts will be reduced.

Parks will now be mown every two weeks, with playing fields, open spaces, allotments and residential verges every 4–6 weeks. Where reduced cutting exists, some residential verges will only receive two full cuts a year, and roadside verges outside of residential areas will only be cut annually. As part of a grounds maintenance review, the Council will also now stop looking after land that hasn’t been identified as theirs. Where the landowner is known, they have been informed.

The Council claims the changes will benefit wildlife – pollinators, birds and small mammals such as hedgehogs and voles; reduce air pollution, traffic congestion and help the Council’s carbon footprint.

Speaking against the changes, Lib-Dem Leader, Councillor Dine Romero, said: “Leaving grass unmown in verges and open spaces is unsightly, irritating for residents and means that many spaces cannot be properly used for recreation.

“Long grass can even be a health hazard if it harbours ticks or makes it more difficult for dog owners to clear up after their dogs. Whilst leaving some areas of longer grass can help insects and biodiversity, this change was not brought in for environmental motives. It is a cost-saving measure, pure and simple. This is yet another example of a Conservative Administration turning its back on residents.”

Twerton Councillor, Tim Ball, (Lib-Dem) added: “This service cut has been brought in secretly by the Conservatives, without a formal decision or announcement. I find it disgraceful that local people have been left in the dark like this.

“Some residents were left thinking that mowing had been entirely cancelled, and have taken matters into their own hands. I heard of one elderly resident who attempted to mow the grass on a bank outside his house, putting his safety at risk.

“The impact of Conservative cuts is now clearly being seen across Bath and North East Somerset. Residents are facing higher costs for a worse service.”

Lib-Dem Finance spokesperson, Councillor Andrew Furse, said he had previously warned against the administration relying on unspecified cuts. He said: “Once the reality of these cuts becomes clear and residents find out which services are being cut, there will be a lot of anger. It is a dishonest way to propose a budget without specifying exactly what the service cuts are. This is one of the reasons the Liberal Democrats opposed the Conservatives’ budget.”

Residents who feel strongly about this decision can work with friends’ groups to supplement maintenance of local green spaces, but permission must be sought first.

The Council is urging residents to get in touch to make sure that people are working safely and are suitably insured on Council-owned land.