Complaints about Peterborough's long grass are growing

Peterborough Telegraph reader Peter Slinger contacted us today (Tusday, June 7) to complain about the length of the grass at Fletton Recreation Ground.

Since then a number of readers have contacted us to say they have also complained about the overgrown nature of parks in their area.

Mr Slinger said: “It is currently unusable for ball games or any kind or recreation other than hide and seek. Some have suggested the council may claim it is to promote wildlife but this is an intensively used urban recreation area for sport, exercise and fresh air - it is not the Serengeti!”

Tariq Mahmood contacted us to complain about Rock Park in New England near the Triangle, he said: “I’ve lived there 40-odd years and the park is used to play football, there are fairs there and activities all year round. And now it’s unusable. It’s unacceptable. Where can children go to play at weekends? How can the city look nice when they are neglecting the parks? It’s the worst I’ve seen it in 40 years. I don’t know when the next cut is going to be.”

Nav Hussain also contacted us about the same park: “I have also raised concerns with my local councillors regarding the lack of maintenance of Rock Park. The only response I have received is that due to spending cuts, only three cuts will be done throughout the year. No one has been able to confirm when the last cut was or when the next scheduled cut is.”

Dermot O’Shea sent us a number of pictures from Orton Goldhay, he said: “ The grass, in areas between Wheatdole, Paynells and Howland, is nearly a metre high in places here too. The kids want to be out playing ball in this lovely weather but they can’t.”

Resident Steve Crouch also contacted us about the length of grass in a park in Dogsthorpe. He said: “Our local park, Rocket Rec on Welland Road is the same. Local children use it to play football and it is becoming impossible due to the height of the grass. Additionally the grass along Belvoir way on the Welland has not been touched this year.”

Reader Frances Green contacted the PT about long grass in Werrington and Bretton, she said: “It is the same in Werrington and Bretton, grass cutting is just not taking place and areas are left too long. The whole city is disappearing into weeds, rubbish and overgrown trees/bushes. It is a right state everywhere.”

Do you have a concern about the length of grass in parks and open spaces... email us a picture at: [email protected]