'It's not re-wilding. It's overgrown grass and keeping costs down': Councillors to write to Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to demand answers over grass cutting

Speaking at a meeting of the borough council’s Operations Committee, at Antrim Civic Centre, on Monday evening, Macedon Ulster Unionist Councillor Robert Foster said: “It is time this council wrote to DfI about the lack of grass cutting in this borough.

“One sign in Rathcoole is invisible due to the height of the grass,” he stated. “It makes areas look very unkempt.”

He went on to say it is “completely unacceptable” and expressed concern about overgrown gullies and drains. “It is not re-wilding. It is not biodiversity. It is overgrown grass to keep costs down,” he added.

Last November, councillors were told during a presentation by DfI Roads Northern Division there are two cuts annually in rural and urban areas, with the exception of sight-lines which are re-cut as necessary.

The report said: “Grass cutting is carried out for road safety reasons rather than for amenity purposes. Previous grass cutting policy allowed for routine cutting of 1 swathe width (approximately 1.2m) twice a year in rural areas and five times a year in urban areas.

“However, due to financial constraints, the policy has been amended to allow for two cuts across both rural and urban areas, with the exception of sightlines which are re-cut as necessary.”

An officer suggested extending correspondence to the Housing Executive.

Airport Sinn Fein Cllr Annemarie Logue highlighted the level of contact from constituents over grass-cutting issues. She asked for DfI to be invited to the chamber to hear councillors’ concerns.

Antrim DUP Alderman John Smyth said Antrim town has been given a “major award” but the “top of the town is a real eyesore”, particularly both sides of the carriageway.

“Our resources could maybe be used better to make our town as it should be,” he commented.