Our town – what an experience for a visitor

FIRST impressions are important in any environment so entering Cromwell Avenue to visit Gemini Retail Park or Gulliver’s World the first thing you notice is that the grass has not been cut.

This could be forgiven if the objective was to help the wildlife but if that was the case wildflower seeds would have been sown to create a butterfly haven. But visitors are now leaving our town a tad let down by the height of the grass and how much they have spent.

While still discussing the grass they start to negotiate Bridge Foot and while rounding the bend all thoughts of grass disappear from their thoughts and sheer panic sets in as the lane markings vanish from sight.

All thoughts are now firmly fixed on their no claims bonuses as traffic attacks them from multiple directions followed by sighs of relief that they have made it in one piece.

DOUG SMITH

Old Hall

Comments(7)

The Maestro says...
7:13pm Thu 9 Aug 12

Drivers should be looking at the road ahead not the height of the grass on the road side. Given cuts are being made to budgets I think grass cutting is down the bottom of things they need to make cuts to.

moleogod says...
7:22pm Thu 9 Aug 12

grass cutting or not many pathways are almost impassable in many areas of warrington

The Maestro says...
7:29pm Thu 9 Aug 12

moleogod wrote:
grass cutting or not many pathways are almost impassable in many areas of warrington
I agree paths should be cut back, thats a once a year job not weekly like the grass. Over grown bushes take over the paths the grass doesn't take over the road

Reader says...
8:03pm Fri 10 Aug 12

Can't say I've really noticed but you only have to look at gardens and canal banks etc to see what the odd weather is doing. Hedges, grass and everything else is growing a huge rates with all the rain then sun then rain then sun then rain then sun.......... hard enough to keep up with all the excesive and very quick growth in a graden never mind the whole of Warringtons grass verges.
Not worth moaning about though cos as least everything looks green an lush :)

Geoff Settle says...
9:02am Sat 11 Aug 12

I agree that paths should be passible and the edges maintained/strimmed so that people can use the paths without getting scratched etc.
However by letting nature take charge inbetween and grow it's an excellent opportunity to create a wildlife environment.
All sorts of insects and plants can grow and provide the much needed food for the birds and animals etc. The numbers of species of birds etc in Towns such as Warrington has gone down over the years and one on the reasons is the we are 'over manicuring' our grassed areas and not letting them grow as nature intended.
We should be encouring and supporting our wildlife habbitat not destroying it.
It was only the other week that somone told me about the Stockton Heath Bee Orchids, if WBC hadn't been told about them the mower man would have decapitated them all without knowing that he had done so.
There are many other plants that need their chance.
The orchiods are just one example of the great wildflowers that would disppear if they weren't given the chance to grow naturally.
I'd encourage anyone to get and see what wildlife is flourishing in Westbrook instead driving past you'd be surprised as to what you find there.

choperado says...
11:23pm Wed 29 Aug 12

SETTLE down. The scribe of the letter said the grass had no flowers so looked untidy and he appreciates wildlife. It seems you just wanted to waffle regardless.
The big problem (regardless of rain, sun, rain, sun) is the amount of paths blocked by overgrown shrubs and not all are council owned. More home owners need to look at their gardens from the outside and think about how (for example) a blind person would fare passing their property.
The council needs to keep on top of its shrub responsibilities as some places force a person on the road. 2 examples; Wilson Patten Street opposite Winmarleigh Street and the pathway opposite Warrington Landscapes on Bernard Street leading to the Recycling place. If they say its cos of cuts then give the Community Service gimps some blunt scissors to no it.

Geoff Settle says...
7:54am Fri 31 Aug 12

I have reported the two examples you have cited to the WBC contact centre for action - hopefully this will be dealt with very shortly.

Landscape Maintenance both private, wbc and housing associations is a big issue at during the year but especially in the summer with the wet sunny conditions we have experienced and

I have been receiving a lot of calls of late about it some are easy to get sorted others less so. It is as you say largely cost related but there are other issues.

As I drive for the Warrington and Widnes Blind Society I am very conscious of their issues.

If there are more landscape maintenance concerns please contact the call centre or go on the web site and report them. With growth as it is at the moment problems can quickly spring up within a week and may not be spotted.

If things don't get done then contact your local concillor.

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