Grass left to grow over land dispute
Angry...right, Susan Turner with residents on the uncut green in Willow Crescent. (Picture: Andrew Carpenter/001403-67)
A BIZARRE wrangle over a patch of grass in a Harborough street has raised its ugly head again - four years after residents thought the problem had been resolved.
People living in Willow Crescent in Harborough spoke to the Mail back in June 2008 after Leicestershire County Council stopped cutting a 40 metres square grass area outside their homes.
County Hall revealed at the time it had never officially ‘adopted’ the land after the estate was built, so had been cutting the grass for almost 30 years when it should not have been.
The council eventually cut the grass, describing it as a goodwill gesture while they investigated and sought legal advice over ownership of the land.
It continued to cut the grass for the next three years.
But when residents contacted County Hall this year to find out if the grass would be cut in time for their Diamond Jubilee street party, they were in for a shock.
Resident Mark Turner told the Mail: “They told us it wasn’t going to be cut at all.
“It’s not been cut this year. Because it’s been so dry the grass hasn’t grown much so far but with the rain we’ve had it’s soon going to shoot up.
“It’s got long enough that the kids aren’t playing on it any more. They are being forced to play on the road instead.”
A Leicestershire County Council spokesman said: “It was recognised back in 2008 that some of the grassed areas in Willow Crescent that had previously been cut by the council were not part of the adopted highway.
“It seems that our contractors may have inadvertently continued cutting some of this grass and we have now reminded them that this does not form part of their contract.
“We have advised the developer of the land that they still have a responsibility for this grass and will be writing to residents shortly to clarify the matter.”
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Weather for Market Harborough
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 5 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
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