Complaints about the reduction of grass cutting in Kirklees are growing as quick as the grass left untended.
But it seems Kirklees Council is unlikely to waiver as the authority faces £1.3m of cuts in parks and open spaces maintenance.
Kirklees Cabinet members will, on Tuesday, be asked to back a new policy that will drastically reduce the level of grass cutting borough-wide.
It could see powers passed to District Committees where councillors can have more say in their wards.
The trial scheme which has run for the last few weeks has attracted a huge number of complaints.
Council papers say: “The total amount of grass that the service cuts is 755 hectares, which equates to 1,057 football pitches.
“The service also grows over 400,000 plants per year to go into beds, hanging baskets and floral displays.
“In setting our new standards we have considered the impacts that reduced maintenance and display regimes can have.”
Kirklees has listed its sites under gold, silver, bronze or natural standards – all with a varying level of grass cutting planned from next April.
A gold standard site, deemed to be a high-profile and popular area, will have 21 grass cuts, a reduction from 28.
Gold sites include the borough’s main parks and crematorium. Batley, Dewsbury, Huddersfield and Holmfirth town centres will be gold standard for floral displays.
Silver standard sites – including recreation grounds with facilities – will have just 14 grass cuts.
Examples include Berry Brow recreation ground, Fartown sports complex, Reinwood rec and Victoria Park in Holmfirth. Mirfield Show Ground and Knowl Park in Mirfield will be silver standard, but have some ‘natural’ zones with no grass cutting.
Bronze standard sites – including highway verges and greenways – will have just six grass cuts at four-week intervals. Examples include Lockwood churchyard, Longwood Tower and Kirkburton picnic area.
- Other areas will be deemed ‘natural zones’ with no grass cutting, it includes smaller recreational grounds.
Public reaction to the changes, currently being trialled, has been largely negative.
Kirklees says 135 people submitted comments, while they’ve even read the views of Examiner readers on our social media sites.
People argue that the long grass looks unsightly; dog fouling will increase and become a health issue and leisure activities will be limited or reduced.
Huddersfield District Committee area
Gold | Silver | Bronze | Natural |
Beaumont Park | Ainley Top Rec | Barcroft Road Open Space | Ainley Top Rec |
Greenhead Park | Almondbury Rec | Beaumont Avenue Shrub Bed | Berry Brow Rec |
Huddersfield Crematorium | Bankfield Rec | Bradley Central Nursery | Birchencliffe Rec |
Ravensknowle Park | Berry Brow Recreation Ground | Bryan Road Open Space | Cowcliffe Hill Rec |
St Peters Gardens | Birchencliffe Rec | Carr Green Lane/Westfield Court | Douglas Avenue Rec, Paddock |
Huddersfield Town Centre | Bradley Park | Catherine Road Open Space | Finthorpe Rec |
Burfitts Road Rec | Chapel Hill | Goldington Avenue Rec | |
Castle Hill | Coniston Avenue Path (Side 50) | Hayfield Avenue Rec | |
Celandine Avenue Rec | Cowrakes Close - Side 25 | Heatherleigh Rec | |
Cliffe Close Rec | Devonshire Street Rec | Huddesfield Green Way | |
Cow Heys Rec | Fanny Moor Lane Open Space | Kidroyd Rec | |
Cowcliffe Hill Road Rec | Fortis Way/Centuria Walk | Longfield Avenue Rec, Golcar | |
Douglas Avenue Rec | Foxlow Avenue Rec | Smiths Avenue/Hollins Terrace Rec | |
Dryclough Rec | Ganton Way Fixby | Southfield Rec | |
Fairlea Rec | Gledholt Wood Culvert | Walpole Road Rec | |
Fartown Arena Multi Court | Greave Close Open Space | ||
Fartown Green Road Rec | Haigh Street Lockwood | ||
Fartown Sports Complex | Heaton Moor Road Open Space | ||
Fenton Square | Hill Grove Rec | ||
Fernside Park | Hill Grove Snicket | ||
Finthorpe Rec | Hillhouse Lane 1/1A | ||
Foxlow Avenue Rec | Hillhouse Lane Corner | ||
Glenfield Avenue Rec | Holly Bank Open Space | ||
Goldington Avenue Rec | Hollyfield Avenue Open Space | ||
Hammond Street Rec | Holt Avenue Multi Court | ||
Hawes Rec | Hopkinson Rec Lindley | ||
Hayfield Avenue Rec | Hopkinson Road Play Area | ||
Heatherleigh Rec | Jack Hill | ||
Heaton Gardens Hard Court Area | Jack Hill Multi Court | ||
Hollins Glen Rec | Lidget Street Gardens | ||
Holt Ave Rec (Northfield Hall) | Lindley Moor Open Space | ||
Hubert Street Rec | Lockwood Churchyard | ||
Ivy Street Rec | Longhill Rd/Hopkinson Rd OS | ||
Jim Lane Rec | Low Hills Lane Development | ||
Kidroyd Rec | Low Hills Open Space | ||
Lindley Rec | Market Street Rec | ||
Longfield Avenue Rec | Marsh Service Reservoir | ||
Lowerhouses War Memorial | Mendip Avenue Open Space | ||
Mount Rec | Mount Sub Station | ||
Newsome Park Open Space | Newsome Church Yard | ||
Norman Park Plot | Newsome Road Open Space | ||
Oak Road Rec | Norwood Estate (Tractor) | ||
Paddock Head Shops | Norwood Estate Top | ||
Plover Road Dam | Orchard Terrace Open Space | ||
Priory Place Rec | Plane Street Garden | ||
Rashcliffe Rec | Plane Street Open Space | ||
Reinwood Rec | Plover Road Footpath | ||
Reinwood Rec Gardens | Rear Of Black Bull Open Space | ||
Smiths Ave/Hollins Ter Rec | Ridgeway Rec | ||
Southfield Rec | Robin Hood Road OS Side 1 | ||
Standiforth Rec | Robin Hood Road OS Side 23 | ||
Tenters Grove Recreation | Rordin Heights Play Area | ||
Walpole Rec | Rowntree Plot s | ||
RSchool Lane Gardens | |||
Shannon Drive Open Space | |||
Sheepridge Road/Chestnut St | |||
Side (1) Lower Fitzwilliam St | |||
Skelton Crescent | |||
South Crosland Church | |||
St Stephens Road Corner SB | |||
Thewlis Lane Open Space | |||
Thornfield Road Verges | |||
Thornton Lodge Open Space | |||
Tom Lane Open Space | |||
Tunnacliffe Road Rec | |||
Upper Brow Road Open Space | |||
Victoria Road Banking | |||
Waingate Open Space | |||
Waingate Park Open Space | |||
Warrenfield Open Space | |||
Warrenside Football Field | |||
Wellfield Bank Open Space | |||
Wellfield Open Space | |||
Whitby Avenue Gardens | |||
Whitehead Lane Open Space Side 132 | |||
Wood Street Rec | |||
Wood Terrace | |||
Woodfield Park Play Area | |||
Woodhouse Church Yard | |||
Woodlea Avenue | |||
Wyvern Avenue Open Space | |||
Wyvern Avenue Open Space Culvert | |||
York Avenue Recreation | |||
Zion Church Yard |
Kirklees Rural District Committee area
Gold | Silver | Bronze | Natural |
Holmside Gardens | Back Lane Rec | Appleyard Picnic Site | Birds Edge Rec |
Marsden Park | Birdsedge Rec | Armitage Fold | Bolster Moor Rec |
Peoples Park | Birdsedge Rest Garden | Banks Road Open Space | Burnlee Rec |
Holmfirth Town Centre | Bolster Moor Rec | Banks Road Play Area | Causeway Crescent |
Botham Hall OS (Allotments) | Bayfield Close | Coronation Park | |
Botham Hall Rec | Beech Avenue OS Shrub Bed | Cross Lane Rec | |
Broad Oak Rec | Broadbent Rec Longwood | Crow Lane Football Field, Mbridge | |
Broadlands Rec | Bromley Bank Open Space | Hawkroyd Bank Rec | |
Brockholes Rec | Christ Church Linthwaite | Jubilee Field | |
Broomhill Close | Cliffewood Park Car Park | Kayes Rec | |
Burnlee Rec | Cliffewood Park Enterprise SB | Kinder Avenue | |
Canal Side | Crangle Field (Stocks Moor) | Meal Hill Rec | |
Causeway Crescent Open Space | Croft Court Roundway Honley | St Johns Avenue Open Space | |
Clayton West War Memorial | Cross Lane Open Space Allots | Sunnymead Rec | |
Cliffewood Park | Cumberworth Open Space | ||
Coal Pit Gate Rec | Cumberworth Play Pen | ||
Coronation Park | Daleside Avenue OS | ||
Cross Lane Rec | Deadwater Corner | ||
Crow Lane Playing Field | Denby Dale Pie Dish | ||
Crow Lane Rec | Dene Park Open Space | ||
Denby Dale War Memorial | Deyne Road Quarry | ||
Emley Rest Garden | Dingle Road Open Space | ||
Emley War Memorial | Dumb Steeple Grange Moor | ||
Farnley Rec | Dungeon Bottom | ||
Flockton Rec | Edgeware Road Open Space | ||
Grange Moor Rec | Emley Churchyard | ||
Hade Edge Rec | Eunice Lane Rec | ||
Hallas Road Rec | Far View Open Space | ||
Hawkroyd Bank Rec | Farnley Tyas Open Space | ||
Hepworth Rec | Fern Bank/Mill Hill Site OS | ||
Hillside Crescent Recreation | Flockton Churchyard | ||
Holmbridge Rec | George Street | ||
Holme Rec | Glebe Street Open Space | ||
Holmfirth Fire Station SB | Gordon Terrace | ||
Holmfirth Road Rec New Mill | Greenfield Road Verge | ||
Jaggar Lane Rec | Greenhead Court Play Area | ||
Jubilee Field Rec | Greenlaws Close Open Space | ||
Kayes Rec | Haughs Road Open Space | ||
Kinder Avenue Open Space | Haywood Avenue Open Space | ||
Kirkburton War Memorial | Heather Fold Cumberworth Rd | ||
Lightenfield Rec | Heather Road Open Space | ||
Linthwaite Football Field | Helme Church | ||
Longwood War Memorial | Hill Top Open Space | ||
Lower Cumberworth Rec | Hob Lane Open Space | ||
Market Street/Scar Lane | Holme Bank Mews | ||
Marsden Park Multi Court | Holme Rec Meal Hill Road | ||
Marten Drive Rec | Honey Head Lane Open Space | ||
Meal Hill Rec | Horse Bank Drive Open Space | ||
Meltham Road Rec, Honley | Ings Mill Drive Open Space | ||
Netherthong Rec | Inkerman Way Open Space | ||
Netherthong War Memorial | Jackroyd Lane Corner | ||
Netherton Memorial Gardens | Jos Lane Play Area | ||
Old Bank | Jubilee Square Leymoor Rd | ||
Oldfield Rec | Kenyon Bank Open Space | ||
Sands Rec Ground | Kilburn Close | ||
Scapegoat Hill Rec | Kirkburton Picnic Area | ||
Scholes Rec Moorlands | Kirkheaton Churchyard | ||
Shepley Cenotaph | Lees Mill Lane Garage Site | ||
Shepley Rec | Lepton Church Yard | ||
Skelmanthorpe Rec | Litherop Picnic Site | ||
Slaithwaite Cenotaph | Lock Top | ||
Slaithwaite Spa | Longwood GIA | ||
Spark Street Rec | Longwood Tower | ||
Stocksmoor Rec | Manchester Road Opp Linfit Fold | ||
Sunnymead Rec | Manchester Road Side 703 | ||
Sycamore Rec | Manor Grange OS Shepley | ||
Thurstonland Rec | Manor Rise OS (Rear33) | ||
Upper Denby Rec | Manordale Close, Flockton PA | ||
Victoria Park Holmfirth | Market Place | ||
Warburton Road Rec | Mason Court | ||
Westerley Way Rec | Meadowcroft Open Space | ||
Wooldale Rec | Meltham Doorstep Green Park | ||
Meltham Methodist Church | |||
Meltham Mills Rec | |||
Meltham Picnic Site | |||
Meltham Pleasure Grounds | |||
Mendip Ave Footpath | |||
Miry Lane Open Space | |||
Moorfield Court OS Grange Mr | |||
Moorlands Rise Plots | |||
Moorside Avenue Rec | |||
Mount Road Rec,Marsden | |||
Myrtle Road Open Space | |||
New Road Southlands OS | |||
New Road Sunny Hill Avenue | |||
New Street Open Space | |||
Oaklands Open Space | |||
Outlane Grave Yard | |||
Paddock Field Rec | |||
Paddock Head Memorial | |||
Park Avenue/A629 Plots | |||
Park Lane Shrubberies | |||
Penistone Road Shrub Bed | |||
Pennine View Rec | |||
Pickford Street Open Space | |||
Priestley Grove | |||
Primrose Hill Rec | |||
Robsons Drive Open Space | |||
Rotcher Tip Picnic Site | |||
Sam Whitehead Gardens | |||
Savile Street Verges | |||
School Lane/Church St Cnr | |||
Shaw Lane Open Space | |||
Sike Close | |||
Skelmanthorpe Car Park | |||
Slaithwaite Builders Yard | |||
Slaithwaite Church | |||
Slaithwaite Grave Yard | |||
Slaithwaite Road Rest Garden | |||
Slantgate/Manchester Road | |||
St Augustines Church | |||
St Bartholomews Church | |||
St Johns Avenue Open Space | |||
St Marys The Virgin | |||
Station Approach Honley | |||
Station Road Corner | |||
Sunnybank Rec | |||
The Grove | |||
Thongsbridge Rec | |||
Thurstonland Parish Church | |||
Towngate Gardens | |||
Two Furrows Rec | |||
Upper Clough Rec | |||
Vicarage Drive Open Space | |||
Vicarage Drive/Tinker Lane | |||
Wellhouse Rec | |||
Westerley Lane (Rear 7-35) | |||
White Wells Gardens Scholes | |||
White Wells Road/Jostle Swells | |||
Wilshaw Rec | |||
Woodhead Fold Park Lane | |||
Woodhead Road Shrubbery | |||
Woodland Drive Development | |||
Woodlands Open Space | |||
Woods Avenue Rec |
Dewsbury and Mirfield District Committee area
Gold | Silver | Bronze | Natural |
Crow Nest Park | Bridge Street Playing Fields | Bracken Close | Bridge St Playing Field, Ravensthorpe |
Dewsbury Crem | Carr House Park | Bradford Road/Wilton Pk Sb | Crawshaw Street Playing Fields |
Ings Grove Park | Centenary Square F Field | Bridge Street Verge | Crossley Lane Rec, Mirfield |
Longcauseway Gardens | Chadwick Hall Gdns O.S | Briestfield C.U.S. S/Mutton | Earlsheaton Park |
Dewsbury Town Centre | Chickenley Recreation | Brunswick Street C.U.S | Grange Road PF |
Crawshaw Street Pf | Caulms Wood Festival Site | Huddersfield Rd Football Field | |
Crossley Lane Rec | Chickenley Nature Reserve | Knowl Park, Mirfield | |
Dewsbury Parish Church | Chidswell House O.S. | Leeds Road Playing Fields | |
Earlsheaton Park Play Area | Church Bank O.S | Lower Hopton Football Field | |
Edge Lane Rec | Church Lane Recreation | Mirfield Show Ground | |
Ellis'S Cricket Field | Coates Close O.S | Overthorpe Park, Thornhill | |
Frank Lane Flower Bed | Cornfield P Area | Pilgrim Tip | |
Grange Road Park | Crackenedge Lane C.U.S | Sands Lane, Dewsbury | |
Grange Road Playing Fields | Dewsbury Gate Road Park | Savile Town Football Field | |
Green Lane Rest Garden | Dewsbury Gate Bowling Green 2 | Scar End Rec | |
Headfield Park | Francis St Cus | Stocks Bank Rec, Mirfield | |
Holroyd Park | Halifax Rd Sb | Upper Hopton Rec | |
Holy Trinity C Of E Church | Halifax/Hirst Rd Corner | Wakefield Road Playing Fields, | |
Honeysuckle Drive | Healds Road Rest Gardens | ||
Hudds Rd Football Ground | Hillgarth/Sandiway Bank Os | ||
Knowle Park | Huddleston Court | ||
Lees Holm Park | Infirmary Road O.S | ||
Lees Holm Park Multi Court | Ings Cricket Field | ||
Lower Hopton Fc | Leeds Road Playing Fields | ||
Memorial Ground (Bg) | Leith Court O/S | ||
Mirfield Cricket Club | Low Park Meadows P.A | ||
Mirfield Showground | Moor Park Lane O/S | ||
Moorlands Cricket Club | Naylor Court Play Area | ||
Overthorpe Park | Northfield Gardens | ||
Rectory Park | Oastler St C.U.S | ||
Rock House Park | Old Bank Rec | ||
Rock House Park Recreation | Ouzelwell Rec | ||
Rock House Side Of Park | Pavilion Court O.S | ||
Sands Lane Pf Arches | Pilgrim Tip | ||
Sands Lane Pf Main Area | Ravens St Play Area | ||
Sands Lane Pf No1 C Field | Ravensthorpe Park | ||
Savile Sports Ground | Rock House Drive Opp Rhp | ||
Savile Town F/Ball Field | South Street Play Area | ||
Scarr End Lane Recreation | Spen Bird Reserve | ||
Upper Hopton (Gdn Of Rest) | Spen Bird Reserve (East) | ||
Upper Hopton Rec | Spen Valley O/S | ||
Wakefield Road Playing Field | Spinners Way O.S (Opp 4) | ||
St Pauls Churchyard | |||
Stephenson Close Os | |||
Stocks Bank/Francis St Rec | |||
The Coppice Open Space | |||
The Laurels O/S | |||
The Maltings (Dell) | |||
Thornhill Cc Perimiter | |||
Thornhill Street Rec | |||
Upper Hopton Cricket Fld | |||
Wakefield Road Development | |||
Whitby Crescent Verges | |||
Woodsome/Stocks Bank Rec |
Batley and Spen Committee area
Gold | Silver | Bronze | Natural |
Batley Memorial Park | All Saints Church | Bempton Grove | Birkenshaw Lane Rec |
Cleckheaton Memorial Park | Ashcroft Close O.S | Benny Parr Close O/S | Cawley Lane Rec |
Green Park | Beck Lane Rest Garden | Broomsdale Rd,Soothill Multi C | Field Lane Rec |
Royds Park | Birkenshaw Lane Rec | Brow Wood Road O.S | Hartshead Rec |
Wilton Park | Birkenshaw Park | Brownhill Road O/S | Healey Play Area |
Batley Town Centre | Birkenshaw Rest Gdn (Yeb) | Church Meadows P.Area | Howden Clough PF |
Birstall Bus Shelter Fb | Clayborn Dog Area | Kingsley Rec | |
Birstall Dam | Cuniver Court O.S | Nibshaw Rec | |
Birstall Parish Church | Fairmoor Way | Nova Lane Rec | |
Bower Lane Rec | Fieldsway O.S | Old Bank Rec, Mirfield | |
Bromley Road Pf | Filley Royd Plots | Princess Mary Rugby Field | |
Carr Street Pf | Fisher Way Os | Roberttown Rec | |
Carters Field | Foxglove Road O/S | Shirley Rec, | |
Cawley Lane Rec | Foxglove Road Verge | Spen Bottoms, Cleckheaton | |
Chestnut Avenue P.F | Gomersal Tunnel Mouth | Staincliffe Playing Fields | |
Dale Lane Rec | Grafton Street Recreation | Sugden Park | |
Drub Rec | Greenacre Drive | Tunnacliffe Road Rec | |
Drub Rest Garden | Grove Chapel | West End Park | |
East Bierley F Field | Hamza Close Pa | ||
East Bierley Green | Heather Court Verge | ||
East Bierley Mem Garden | Heaton Grange P Area | ||
East Bierley Rec | Heckmondwike Parish Church | ||
Eddercliffe Rec | Howden Clough Sports Centre | ||
Firth Park | Hyrstmount Synthetic Pitch | ||
Firthcliffe Walk Rec | Laurel Drive Pa | ||
France Street Recreation | Leveret Way O.S | ||
Garden House Rec | Little Green Lane O.S | ||
Goose Hill Rest Garden | Mill Forest Way O/S | ||
Hartshead Rec | Millbrook Gds (Pond) | ||
Headlands Rd Rest Garden | Millbrook Gds P.A (Side 25) | ||
Healey Play Area (Rec) | Millbrook Gds Pa (Side 56) | ||
Heights Park | Millstone Rise | ||
Howden Clough P.F | Monk Ing Rear 19 | ||
Hunsworth Rec | Monk Ing Rear 21 | ||
Hyrstlands Park | Monk Ing Rear 5 | ||
Hyrstlands Park Multi Court | Moorside Rec | ||
Jessops Park | Mount Pleasant B.G. | ||
King George V.P.F. | Mount Pleasant Ent Multi Court | ||
Kingsley Rec | Mount Pleasant Entrance | ||
Littletown F.Field | Mount Pleasant Park | ||
Liversedge Church | Mount Pleasant Sports Area | ||
Liversedge Church Mem Gdn | Mount Pleasant T Pitch | ||
Millbridge Park | Mount Pleasant/Taylor St Bank | ||
Milton Road Rec | Nell Royds Mills | ||
Moorend Rec | New North Road Pocket Park | ||
Nibshaw Rec | Owler Lane Recreation | ||
Norristhorpe Rec | Paxton Corner | ||
Nova Lane Recreation | Peasland Road Rec | ||
Oakenshaw Rest Garden | Popeley Rise Pa Muffit Lane | ||
Pavilion Gardens | Princess Mary Golf | ||
Princess Mary Stadium | Princess Mary Rugby Field | ||
Raikes Lane | Prospect Lane Birkenshaw | ||
Raikes Lane Pavilion | Richmond Grove | ||
Red House Rec | Richmond Park Pos | ||
Roberttown Rec | Roberttown Common | ||
Savoy Os | Roberttown Common-Rear | ||
Scholes Rec | Roberttown Commonside | ||
Scholes Rest Garden | Rock Edge | ||
Shirley Rec | Scholes Lane End | ||
Spen Bottoms | Shaw St/Moorbottom Jctn | ||
St Barnabas Rest Garden | Shirley Ave O.S | ||
St Peg Lane Corner | Sixth Ave Play Equipment | ||
Staincliffe PF | Sparrow Park | ||
Sugden Park | Spen Park/Darley Road Area | ||
Taylor Street/Victoria Ave P.F | St Johns Parish Church | ||
The Show Boat Verges | St Mary'S Churchyard Gomersal | ||
Upper Batley Lane Fields | Staincliffe P.F | ||
West End Park | Summerdale/Moor Lane | ||
White Lee Pf | Teasel Close O.S | ||
The Coppice Pa Church Lane | |||
The Crossings Development | |||
The Royds O.S | |||
Thornleigh Drive | |||
Toftshaw Lane | |||
Town Street Rest Garden | |||
Track Rd/Ashcroft Passageway | |||
Turnpike Close O.S | |||
Union Road Rec | |||
Warwick Road Kickabout | |||
Weavers Croft O.S | |||
Wesley Street | |||
West End Drive O.S | |||
West Street Play Area | |||
Westacre Drive Kickabout | |||
White Lee School Fields | |||
Whitechapel Church | |||
Wickham Street | |||
Wormold Street Rest Garden | |||
Whitechapel Church | |||
Wickham Street | |||
Wormold Street Rest Garden |