Staff at a Lepton baker’s shop are being given the needle by giant thistles growing outside.
The sea of flowering 5ft high thistles outside Hadfields on Highgate Lane haven’t seen a strimmer for years, and staff have accused Kirklees Council of leaving the situation to get out of hand.
The shop’s manager Amanda Hartley said she was fed up of residents complaining about the overgrown council land, which has nothing to do with them.
Amanda, 49, said: “It’s an eyesore. No one has been here to cut them in about two years, they were about knee-height last summer so in a year they’ve shot up.
“We get about six people coming in every day who live locally or are just passing saying we need to cut them.
“Almost everyone who comes into the bakery comments on how scruffy it looks.
“I have to keep explaining the land belongs to the council and we can’t do anything.”
Amanda added that it’s not just the bakery’s appearance the weeds are affecting.
“We get a lot of elderly customers who need to use the handrail for access, but the weeds are beginning to overgrow it meaning they can’t use it.
“We had one elderly gentlemen who got his foot tangled while holding the rail and nearly tripped. They could end up becoming a real hazard if left much longer.”
Amanda has now complained to Kirklees about the weeds and was told someone would come to inspect it, but is still waiting to hear from them.
A spokesman for Kirklees Council said that negotiations are well underway with members of the Lepton Community Association who are interested in taking on the maintenance of these flower beds.
He added: “Our newly appointed Volunteer Coordinators are working to enable voluntary and community groups to become more involved with managing parks and greenspaces throughout Kirklees. This is just one of the ways that we are supporting communities to do more for themselves.
“We are working in partnership with Natural Kirklees to offer a free tool share scheme and insurance to cover tasks and activities. It’s really positive that the community association have come forward to say they would be willing to take this on and we will work closely with them to make sure that this happens. This will include an agreed plan, help with any tools, training and providing plants as needed. Whilst we recognise that the flower beds will look untidy in the interim, there is a positive way forward for the future.”
