‘We’re gonna need a bigger lawnmower!’ Resident’s anger at housing association’s lack of grass cutting

A RESIDENT in the Awdry Avenue area has criticised a local housing association for allowing grass verges to become overgrown.

Tenant Michael Bailey, who lives on Loxley Close which meets with Awdry Avenue, says that Selwood Housing, who are responsible for the area, have not cut the grass along the road at all this year, allowing it to become overgrown.

“It’s a disgrace,” said Michael. The grass must be over a foot high by now. I’ve contacted Selwood, who first said that it didn’t belong to them and that it belonged to Wiltshire Council – but they denied responsibility too.

“Eventually Selwood accepted that it belonged to them, but then they told me that the company, Idverde, who cut the grass for them needed to find a lawnmower big enough to cut it!  They said they couldn’t find a machine big enough!

“This grass should have been cut weeks and weeks ago.”

However, after being contacted by Melksham News, Selwood Housing did an about-turn, announcing that the grass would be cut almost immediately.

A spokesperson for Selwood Housing told Melksham News, “At Selwood Housing we have been reviewing our grounds maintenance maps and land ownership to ensure they are accurate and up to date. This work has confirmed that this area of land at Awdry Avenue is owned by Selwood Housing and will therefore form part of our grass cutting programme going forwards.

“Our surveyor visited the area yesterday (15th May) and agreed that the grass at Awdry Avenue is particularly high. Now that we have confirmed ownership, the grass will be cut on Thursday 16th May and will then be cut twice a month between June – October 2019 as part of our grass cutting programme.”

Speaking to Melksham News, confirming that the grass had been cut on Thursday 16th May, Michael said, “I’m much happier now – but I’ll be even happier when they come back to clear away all the grass cuttings. Selwood has told me that they will do this in the next few days – but we shall see.”

Above: Overgrown grass on a verge in Awdry Avenue.

Below: Height of grass where Loxley Close meets Awdry Avenue.