Grass around north Tipperary ‘cut within an inch of its life’
Cllr Morris proposed that the grass cutting should be done by council employees, and done with an eye to biodiversity. However, it is considered not feasible due to the staff required and the cost, especially for fuel
THE QUALITY of grass-cutting works in Nenagh was criticised at the October meeting of Nenagh Municipal District.
Tipperary County Council’s private grass-cutting contract is set to be revised following a discussion regarding the “massive” workload it requires and the potential establishment of bio-diverse areas in Nenagh estates.
Councillor Seamus Morris said at the meeting that the current contractor “has failed completely,” adding that the grass-cutters were “driving around like Formula One drivers”.
He claimed that he has received numerous complaints from constituents regarding the way certain areas look. “People are furious,” he said.
Cllr Morris proposed that the grass cutting should be done by council employees, noting that “years ago, we took on our own jobs.”
Barry Murphy, Senior Executive Engineer of Nenagh Municipal District, explained that this wasn’t feasible, due to the lack of council staff and the cost that would be incurred.
He added that Tipperary County Council were “reviewing and revising” their contract with the private company currently undertaking the works. In particular, the frequency of how often the company cuts and collects grass will be looked at.
He claimed that very few contractors would be able to take on the scale of the grass-cutting needed.
Mr Murphy also noted that the work is heavily fuel-dependent, so the cost of the contract could rise in the future.
Councillor Michael O’Meara suggested that the workload could be reduced by the introduction of biodiversity areas that would not require constant trimming. He claimed that, currently, grass was “being cut within an inch of its life”.
These areas would instead feature wildflowers and trees, supporting the environment while lessening the workload on contractors. Cllr O’Meara pointed to the success of similar projects in Quin, County Clare.
Barry Murphy agreed that the current grass-cutting system was creating a “very sterile environment,” likening it to that of a golf course.