A MERLEY resident has criticised a “ridiculous attempt” by BCP Council to appease frustration over the ‘Let it Grow’ scheme by cutting a small section of an overgrown green.

The green on Sopwith Crescent had a section cut after residents complained that the ‘Let it Grow’ scheme made a green and footpath area inaccessible. This follows the news that the Council will partially backtrack the scheme after a review was called last week citing “significant feedback”.

Rita Webb has lived in Sopwith Crescent for 42 years and told the Daily Echo: “It’s absolutely awful, they’ve cut a small section with the hopes of pleasing the residents, but it looks even worse.”

Following the review last week, BCP Council leader Drew Mellor said: “Part of trialling something is to take soundings from those affected, and I’ve heard loud and clear that there are some areas where the trial is not engendering a sense of pride in place.

“Therefore, whilst absolutely supporting this biodiversity project, we will be commencing some cutting in areas where feedback and learning supports this.”

In response, Rita said: “It’s not about ecology, it’s cost cutting. The cutting outside my home is just a ridiculous attempt to appease residents. There’s no reason why the Council can’t cut the entire green, which they always used to do every two weeks – rain or shine.

“It’s been so long since the grass was cut that the smell is awful – not the usual smell of freshly cut grass that everyone enjoys.

“Also, the whole point of the scheme is to encourage biodiversity, but our green is just long grass and weeds. If any wildflowers tried to grow, they’d be suffocated.

“We’re just depressed about the whole situation,” Rita added. “People are worried about property devaluation and parents don’t want their children getting ticks. We just want it to go back to the way it used to be which was beautiful.”

Regarding this issue, a Council spokesperson told the Daily Echo: “Following a public consultation in 2020, a management plan for the maintenance of the open spaces adjacent to Sopwith Crescent, Merley was designed.

“Some parts of the open space were fully cut to provide areas for recreation, others were partially cut at the edges to prevent grass growth from impeding footpaths and some areas were left uncut so that pollinators and other insects could thrive.

“All areas will be cut in the autumn with grass cuttings removed in line with the management plan.”