Council officials in Kirklees have revealed the extent of cuts to the grass maintenance budget.

Last month the Examiner reported that parks, playing fields and verges were to be mown less often with some parts left to grow wild.

Now, with the growing season in full swing, the impact of the cuts – or lack of them – has become all too obvious, sparking complaints from the public.

Council officials, in an e-mail to Mirfield Tory councillor Martyn Bolt, say the changes to grass cutting was necessary after £1.3 million was axed from the grounds maintenance budget for the financial year from April.

Around 30 jobs have been lost since last year with “large machinery” – such as tractors and mowers – reduced by 15.

As part of a trial which runs to the end of June, grass is to be cut once a fortnight instead of weekly in “priority areas” but much less often in other places.

Grass verges in Huddersfield have been left to grow wild.

But what has puzzled members of the public is that grass cutting varies in the same park. Some of the grass is mown while the rest is left untouched. One of those affected is Knowl Park in Mirfield.

Long and short grass in Knowl Park, Mirfield

Clr Bolt said: “As the grass has started to grow people are becoming more aware of what the cuts to the cutting actually mean.

“The council says this is to save money but what people can’t get their heads around is how cutting some of the grass in a park but not all of it can save money.

“Surely the costs of getting staff and equipment to the park is the same whether they cut all the grass or just some of it?”

Clr Bolt said the trial was implemented without consultation with the public or formal approval from the council’s Cabinet.

The Examiner reported in April how council gardeners were given cards to hand out to the public explaining the changes.

The card, criticised for its heavy-handed wording, warns the public their complaints will fall on deaf ears and says: “We need to assess what effect this (the mowing changes) will have on the landscape so we’ll be sticking to this new approach until the end of June – even if you complain.”

The e-mail response to Clr Bolt says a report will go to Cabinet at the end of June detailing the “level of service” at more than 7,500 sites across the district.

Clr Martyn Bolt

Clr Bolt added: “I have asked about service levels before the cuts and asked why changes have been made when the ruling Cabinet hasn’t made any decisions.

“I remember when the council changed bin collections there was extensive public consultation beforehand but this trial was introduced and what we’ve got now is one size annoys all.”

Clr Bolt said the public was asked to give their views on council cuts as part of budget consultations but added: “No one was asked if they wanted to see grass cutting reduced.

“We all know there is less money available to councils and it comes down to making choices.”

Clr Bolt said there were other areas that could be cut first such as the £500,000 paid by the council towards the cost of trades union representatives.