West Lothian Council

Grass cutting to resume in priority areas only
Essential grass cutting tasks are being reinstated on a prioritised basis by West Lothian Council following the COVID-19 outbreak.

The work is being undertaken to protect key open space assets, with a number of other councils in Scotland carrying out similar work.

Ground Maintenance was not considered as a key service during the initial lockdown process and many staff members were either redeployed to other essential service areas or are self-isolating.  However the council has inspected a number of its open spaces and believes it is important that some grass cutting and other essential maintenance tasks are reinstated on a phased basis as soon as possible.

The main reason to reinstate grass cutting in some areas is to ensure minimal maintenance is carried out to prevent irretrievable asset deterioration.

Maintenance will resume on council owned golf courses and bowling greens, school grounds, football pitches and large parks, roadside verges and other large grass areas across West Lothian.

All cutting will be carried out in line with guidance on social distancing to protect staff and members of the public.
The council has stressed that this is not a complete return to normal standards.

The council will put measures in place to ensure that the service is delivered in line with guidance on social distancing for staff and members of the public.

Weed management operations remain suspended, but will reviewed on a weekly basis, with a limited service an option where essential.

Staff recruited for the Garden Maintenance Scheme, which was due to start on 6 April, have been re-deployed in Waste Services and the scheme remains suspended.