Reduced grass cutting regime leaves Croydon in the wilderness

The Chronicle is launching a challenge to see which part of the borough has the longest overgrown grass after council cut backs left some parts of the Croydon resembling a wilderness. 

We have already been sent some pretty disgraceful pictures of unkempt waist high grass and hope that the council will be shamed in to taking action.

Most shockingly are images from Croydon’s cemeteries where some graves are no longer visible because of the height of the uncut grass.

While we are all in favour of the benefits of not mowing your lawn in May to help wildlife it seems like every month is No Mow Month in Croydon.

Unashamedly, the cabinet lead for Sustainable Croydon  Cllr Muhammad Ali has claimed that reducing the cut cycle provides “a more efficient service” telling complaining residents on social media: “and is good for the environment especially bees, butterflies etc.” 

The real reason is the the council has ‘adjusted’ its grass cutting cycle from three to four weeks to eight to 10 weeks after slashing the maintenance budget.

It is quite normal for council’s to allow grass to grow in to a meadows to encourage wildlife but this usually involves mowing pathways to enable human inhabitants to walk through.

The cost cutting to non core services like parks and grass cutting was done in the wake of the council going bankrupt and wasn’t informed by a biodiversity policy.

Distressed family upset by the height of the grass obscuring many loves ones graves and headstones at the council run cemetery on Mitcham and Thornton Road, in Croydon were told by staff in that it had not been cut because of “lack of funds”.

As little condolence they added that the situation would be addressed but: “didn’t know when that would be.”

Our pictures show just how overgrown the grass has become.

Jibraeel Khan took a picture of his father Mohammad Akram Khan’s grave yesterday (Mon) at Queen’s Road cemetery. The memorial is hardly recognisable because it is engulfed in grass.

He said: “I was shocked to see the cemetery in such a state. I was previously last there on 22 May, and it was nowhere near this.”

It’s not just parks that have become junglesque the budget also covers grass cutting of all green spaces, verges and areas outside council owned housing.

One tenant said: “ We have been waiting for our grass to be cut in our communal area…. Last year they only cut it twice and we pay for it. Not even anyone in the council to complain to as no-one is interested, you just get bounced from pillar to post.”

According to to the parks department following a complaint about the height of the grass in  Norbury Park it was revealed that there is only one tractor for grass cutting throughout the whole of the borough.

A park user said: “I was astounded to see how high the grass was. Up to waist height and taller in some areas! I don’t understand why the council can’t leave the perimeter or areas of long grass for nature etc but still cut other areas for activities, rest, picnics. 

“It is dangerous in some areas especially for the elderly, blind, partially sighted and children. Yes they can use the paths but why should people just stick to paths?! A park is there to be enjoyed in its entirety! Also who wants to sit down in it not knowing if there’s dog pooh there or not?!”

At Trumble Gardens in Thornton Heath, the weeds and grass are as high as the fence.

The gardens were originally intended to be a formal space, created from bombed out houses and named after a local dignitary, Alderman Trumble.

Now it looks as though it has been abandoned by the council; and is covered in litter with broken grass and neglected tennis courts. The green space opposite the gardens on Brigstock Road is also unloved and uncared for as our pictures show.

Have you seen worst examples? Send your pictures to The Chronicle editor@thorntonheathchronicle.co.uk or post on The Chronicle social media Facebook or Twitter. 

The Chronicle is launching a challenge to see which part of the borough has the longest overgrown grass after council cut backs left some parts of the Croydon resembling a wilderness. 

We have already been sent some pretty disgraceful pictures of unkempt waist high grass and hope that the council will be shamed in to taking action.

Most shockingly are images from Croydon’s cemeteries where some graves are no longer visible because of the height of the uncut grass.

While we are all in favour of the benefits of not mowing your lawn in May to help wildlife it seems like every month is No Mow Month in Croydon.

Unashamedly, the cabinet lead for Sustainable Croydon  Cllr Muhammad Ali has claimed that reducing the cut cycle provides “a more efficient service” telling complaining residents on social media: “and is good for the environment especially bees, butterflies etc.” 

The real reason is the the council has ‘adjusted’ its grass cutting cycle from three to four weeks to eight to 10 weeks after slashing the maintenance budget.

It is quite normal for council’s to allow grass to grow in to a meadows to encourage wildlife but this usually involves mowing pathways to enable human inhabitants to walk through.

The cost cutting to non core services like parks and grass cutting was done in the wake of the council going bankrupt and wasn’t informed by a biodiversity policy.

Distressed family upset by the height of the grass obscuring many loves ones graves and headstones at the council run cemetery on Mitcham and Thornton Road, in Croydon were told by staff in that it had not been cut because of “lack of funds”.

As little condolence they added that the situation would be addressed but: “didn’t know when that would be.”

Our pictures show just how overgrown the grass has become.

Jibraeel Khan took a picture of his father Mohammad Akram Khan’s grave yesterday (Mon) at Queen’s Road cemetery. The memorial is hardly recognisable because it is engulfed in grass.

He said: “I was shocked to see the cemetery in such a state. I was previously last there on 22 May, and it was nowhere near this.”

It’s not just parks that have become junglesque the budget also covers grass cutting of all green spaces, verges and areas outside council owned housing.

One tenant said: “ We have been waiting for our grass to be cut in our communal area…. Last year they only cut it twice and we pay for it. Not even anyone in the council to complain to as no-one is interested, you just get bounced from pillar to post.”

According to to the parks department following a complaint about the height of the grass in  Norbury Park it was revealed that there is only one tractor for grass cutting throughout the whole of the borough.

A park user said: “I was astounded to see how high the grass was. Up to waist height and taller in some areas! I don’t understand why the council can’t leave the perimeter or areas of long grass for nature etc but still cut other areas for activities, rest, picnics. 

“It is dangerous in some areas especially for the elderly, blind, partially sighted and children. Yes they can use the paths but why should people just stick to paths?! A park is there to be enjoyed in its entirety! Also who wants to sit down in it not knowing if there’s dog pooh there or not?!”

At Trumble Gardens in Thornton Heath, the weeds and grass are as high as the fence.

The gardens were originally intended to be a formal space, created from bombed out houses and named after a local dignitary, Alderman Trumble.

Now it looks as though it has been abandoned by the council; and is covered in litter with broken grass and neglected tennis courts. The green space opposite the gardens on Brigstock Road is also unloved and uncared for as our pictures show.

Have you seen worst examples? Send your pictures to The Chronicle editor@thorntonheathchronicle.co.uk or post on The Chronicle social media Facebook or Twitter.