Angry residents have hit out after the local authority announced it will no longer cut council-owned grass outside their homes for free.
Householders in North Muirton are among those affected across Perth and Kinross by a budget decision taken two years ago, which is now coming into effect.
In a bid to save over £150,000, the council agreed to cut back dramatically the amount it spends on grounds maintenance. Some areas will go untended, while swathes of shrubs and bushes have been removed to avoid the need for future care.
Shocked householders in North Muirton have been told the gardens of their council properties will be their own responsibility.
One said: “My elderly parents live in North Muirton and they just received a letter from the council that says they must now cut the grass in front of their house.
“This land is actually owned by the council. It is not owned by my parents. Their next-door neighbour, who is also elderly, has been told they have to cut the grass and look after the large tree in front of their house.
“Many of these neighbours are worried how they afford getting someone to do this since they are elderly and not able to do it themselves. Sending letters to residents saying they now have to maintain council-owned land is ridiculous.”
The cut was made two years ago and will affect communities across the region.
A letter sent to In Bloom groups and community councils by the council’s environment service stated maintenance on smaller shrub beds and less prominent sites will take place only twice a year.
Grass verges will only be cut to 30mph boundary signs in the plan, agreed by all parties except the Conservative opposition.
Its leader at the time was Councillor Alexander Stewart.
He said: “The Conservative group said in 2011 there would be repercussions from this decision and that’s what we’re now seeing. These areas may become an eyesore and we didn’t think it was worth that risk.
“We hope the In Bloom groups may take on some of the work, but we just don’t know. The onus will be on the residents and we don’t know how they will respond.
“The grass verges along the Motor Mile into Perth aren’t to be cut any more what will the businesses there think of that?
“Bowerswell is Perth’s war memorial and it won’t be treated. It may be that the maintenance gets even better, it may get worse; again, we just don’t know.”
Liberal Democrat leader and Perth City Centre councillor Peter Barrett said: “The council seems to have made a dog’s breakfast of implementation and consultation. The council needs to clarify which areas of grass they intend to stop cutting in North Muirton.
“At the moment, residents are confused. Is grass cutting being stopped for just the frontages of terrace houses and cottages or is it around blocks of flats as well?”
Fellow City Centre councillor and Labour group leader Archie Maclellan said: “There are mixed feelings because some people are quite keen on the idea because it gives them the opportunity to fence off the gardens and get some privacy or put in driveways.
“There are other people who are objecting. They can get their grass cut for £1.15 a week but they are feeling hurt by that. Provision will obviously be made for the elderly and those in sheltered housing.
“The alternative would have been little or no maintenance on the North Inch, which would have been unacceptable to all the people of Perth.”
A council spokesman said: “The objective of the review is to ensure there is a consistent and equitable approach to the sites the council currently maintain within reducing resources.”