Following successful pilots introduced earlier in the season, Harlow Council has been rolling out new standards of landscape maintenance across the whole of Harlow this week.
Over one-third of Harlow is made up of beautiful green space and the council and HTS are working to restore pride in the town by improving how landscaped areas in the town are maintained. Subject to the weather conditions the grass cutting season in the town is due to end in November.
The workforce now covers defined neighbourhoods in teams of three meaning that:
* Grass is cut and strimmed at the same time so that grass is not overgrown around obstacles.
* HTS will aim to cut the grass every 10 working days as opposed to every 17 working days to ensure it is kept shorter and tidier.
* Each team of three has responsibility for defined areas to ensure pride is taken in work.
* A leading hand in each team inspecting the work when completed to ensure it is of the highest standard.
* Improved maintenance of hedges and bushes.
The council will also be bringing forward a new tree maintenance strategy.
Commenting on the new townwide standards, Councillor Nicky Purse, cabinet portfolio holder for environment and sustainability, said:
“Harlow is blessed with so many beautiful green spaces in every street, but we know the maintenance of those spaces has not always been good enough. That’s why, we introduced pilots of certain neighbourhoods earlier in the season to test new ways of working and standards. I am delighted that those pilots have been so successful and that we are now rolling out these standards to every neighbourhood in Harlow.
“One of our five priorities is to restore pride in Harlow and with these new landscape maintenance standards, we will be doing just that by tackling the issues in your street and ensuring the green spaces are better looked after.”
