Harlow Council and its maintenance company HTS have started its grass cutting programme for 2024.
The programme has started with the cutting of sports fields, open spaces, and highway verges. Due to the recent persistent rainfall, teams are currently working around wet and boggy areas. These areas will be cut once they are drier.
As part of the council’s priority to restore pride in Harlow, this year there will be a complete overhaul of how grass is cut across the town following pilots introduced last year. The new working practices that HTS is putting into action are:
Teams of three each cover defined neighbourhoods
Grass is cut and strimmed at the same time, so it does not become overgrown around obstacles
HTS will aim to cut the grass every 10 working days instead of every 17 working days, to ensure it is kept shorter and tidier
Each team of three is entrusted with specific responsibilities for their neighbourhood, allowing them to take full ownership in maintaining their defined areas
Councillor Nicky Purse, cabinet portfolio holder for environment, said:
“The grass cutting season has now started with new and better ways of working following the successful grass cutting pilot schemes last year where the mowing and strimming teams all moving around the town together.
“HTS will also be cutting grassed areas more often which, coupled with the improvements made to hedge and shrub trimming, and the tree maintenance programme being introduced, will mean that this year the town’s green spaces will look better than ever.”
