Local environmental activists are urging the new West Dunbartonshire Council Labour administration not to increase grass cutting amid fears it could harm the environment.
This comes after the party accused the previous SNP administration of “neglecting” green spaces and saying in their council election pamphlet that they wanted to prioritise grass cutting.
Local beekeeper Robert Dalgleish has spoken on the effects that it could have on biodiversity, he said: “If the Labour council goes back to the way they used to cut the grass, then it will be an issue because they will be cutting all areas, and it will destroy pollinator corridors.
“June is a bad month for bees to get a food source, and one of the biggest pollinators is not bees, but moss and other insects during the night.
“If you look across West Dunbartonshire, there are hardly any insects out at night now compared to five or six years ago, and that is because of the lack of pollinator corridors.”
Labour councillor for Dumbarton, David McBride has said that the Labour administration will prioritise open spaces, commenting: “The Labour council will prioritise our open spaces following the steady decline in upkeep by the SNP.
“We will review areas of biodiversity, ensure they are appropriate, have community support and not just an excuse to neglect communities and open spaces.
“The Labour group have had concerns from residents that they believed the previous policy left some of our greenspace neglected and there was no plan.
“We appreciate the value of biodiversity and the requirement to protect the environment.
“Therefore, when reviewing the areas, we will seek professional advice and ensure the areas chosen are appropriate and supported by communities.”
Silverton and Overtoun Community Council chair Rona Wilkinson believes that West Dunbartonshire Council should keep up their ‘No Mow’ policy, she said: “After the previous council elections in 2016, there was a ‘No Mow’ policy, and the area around the dam in the Silverton area in Dumbarton was left for over a year, and it was lovely.
“I wish I had taken photos now, but there were complaints from the public as no information was given, and some residents thought the council were just being lazy.”
