Overgrown grass causing public safety fears in Gloucestershire
People are worried about the risk of fire and the spread of lymes disease in Mitten and wider Tewkesbury
As heatwaves and drought continue, extreme weather conditions are taking a toll on the daily lives of people across Gloucestershire.
Residents in Mitton and the wider Tewkesbury area are calling for action after what they are calling 'a year of neglect' when it comes to dry and uncut grass in the area.
County Councillor Vernon Smith and Tewkesbury Borough Councillor Graham Bocking have issued a joint open letter to Gloucestershire County Council chiefs demanding immediate action.
The letter is addressed directly to Chief Executive Jo Walker and Liberal Democrat Council Leader Lisa Spivey (South Cerney), and demands that cutting crews be deployed immediately to address the 'glaring public hazard and and an unacceptable insult to local residents.'
The overgrown, dry grass is feared to be an 'elevated fire hazard' for local residents and people are worried it may be concealing sharp objects, holes, and uneven ground.
Long grass be a habitat for ticks and other disease carrying insects, elevating the risk of Lyme disease for walkers and their pets.
Cllr Smith, who leads the Reform UK group at Shire Hall, has been campaigning on the issue for over a year.
He says, “We have exhausted every internal channel, submitted formal motions, and written to highways officers. It is time for leadership to stop making excuses and get the grass cut.”
Meanwhile, Cllr Bocking says the issue of long grass is now a 'genuine safety issue for families, children, and property owners.'
He states that, “The community cannot be expected to go through another season or endure a full winter in these conditions,”
“We require a firm commitment and an immediate operational deployment from Gloucestershire County Council.”
Liberal Democrat Councillor Mark Harris (Cirencester North), assures residents that action is being taken.
He says, “We understand the frustration where grass cutting has not yet taken place,” he said.
“With this first round of safety work now completed, our countywide grass-cutting programme is well underway, and the Tewkesbury area is scheduled to be cut within the next two weeks.