There are fears green spaces across Fife will become eyesores under “rewilding” plans, branded a cost cutting exercise by critics.
Fife Council has announced proposals to let some areas of grassland grow wild in a move it says will boost biodiversity and benefit bees and other pollinating insects.
However, some residents fear public spaces are being “abandoned” by the authority.
As lockdown measures were eased, council grass cutting teams were deployed to catch up on maintenance at public parks.
The council said there had been a growing number of requests for some areas to be allowed to “revert to their natural state”. It intends to launch a consultation on how green spaces should be managed.
While some Fifers have welcomed the boost to wildlife, others fear it’s simply an excuse for saving money.
Tom Kinnaird, who chairs Benarty Community Council, said: “My feeling is more folk would rather the grass got cut.
“At the moment, some areas only get one cut per year, which is standard. Some are not nice to look at. They’re certainly not beautiful landscapes.
“I do concede there are nice areas where they have planted wild flowers, but some areas will just be abandoned, because that’s what has happened here.”
Local resident Wullie Clarke said: “Proper management is still required to maintain support across the community so that this is not just a cost cutting exercise.
“What I have noticed is the need to tackle weeds growing from kerbs and cracks in footpaths which is causing real damage in some streets.”
The council said separate proposals were being drawn up for each area and residents would be given the chance to give feedback before they are discussed by area committee councillors and decisions are made.
SNP councillor Ross Vettraino, convener of the council’s environment and protective services committee, said: “Over the last few months, while we have been in lockdown, many areas of grassland have grown wild, attracting bees and insects to wild flowers and grasses, and creating areas of natural beauty .
“Rewilding in this way has many biodiversity benefits, supporting a variety of wildlife, cutting down on the use of herbicides and weedkillers, and helping in the fight we all face against climate change by reducing fuel use and air pollution.”
He added: “I hope people will agree that this is a positive step forward, both in terms of how the council prioritises scarce resources, and the wider environmental benefits of creating areas of natural beauty across the kingdom.”
Conservative councillor Richard Watt said council tax payers were being “short changed” because the grass cutting schedule was reduced during lockdown with no discussion.
“The majority of Fife Council’s committees have been suspended since February in light of the pandemic with no plans to resume until September at the earliest.
“The situation we are currently in short-changes Fifers twice. They’re not getting their grass cut, and they’re not getting the representation they voted for and are paying for.”
