The Council’s Labour Cabinet will be deciding tomorrow – July 28 2015 – which parks, recs, playing fields, verges and small grassed areas will have grass cut and at what intervals.

Click here to see the full report which gives details for every park and recreation area in Kirklees.
https://democracy.kirklees.gov.uk/documents/s4474/2015-07-28%20C%20Parks%20Open%20Spaces%20Service%20Standards.pdf

I understand that the Council has some tough decisions to take because of the huge reduction in grant from the Government. However, tough decisions should still be made by consulting local councillors and residents. This has not happened for the big reductions to grass cutting. Comments were asked for during the trial period from April to June but there have been no changes as a result.

I am going to Cabinet tomorrow to challenge two particularly foolish decisions:
1. the proposal to only cut the middle part of West End Park. This is especially frustraing and annoying for the Friends of West End Park who have devoted considerable time and energy in making great improvements to the Park. It is also the ONLY grassed area available for children attending Heaton Avenue Primary and has been used by the school on South Parade as their outdoor grased area for at least 40 years.
2. Mann Dam which is the ONLY grassed are for a large part of Cleckheaton and especially for the children who attend Howard Park Primary who also do not have any grassed area on the school site.

If you have time to look at the full report and want me to make any further representations to Cabinet then please let me know email is best kath.pinnock@kirklees.gov.uk