Build-up of litter remains after grass is cut in council re-wilding trial

Liberal Democrat campaigners in Hull Road ward have expressed concerns that significant amounts of litter have been left behind after one of the trial areas left to grow wild by City of York Council this summer eventually had the grass cut. Andrew Mortimer, Danielle Mason & Caleb Pell are calling for lessons to be learned quickly before other areas of York are left in the same litter strewn state. 

The central reservation of Hull Road opposite B&Q was selected and signed as one of the ‘Buzz About York’ locations where the grass was not cut until the end of the growing season. As a result, local volunteers were not able to litter pick the area which suffers from cans, bottles, paper and sweet wrappers being thrown out of passing vehicles.

A significant amount of litter was allowed to build up in the grass and when the grass cutters came along, plastic bottles, paper and drinks cans were shredded and strewn along the side of the road.

Badger Hill Resident Andrew Mortimer who volunteers to litter pick in the area said “The arrangements put in place for the trail this year have not worked well. If you drive along Hull Road you will clearly see the mess opposite B&Q where the shredded litter has been left, but further down where we are able to remove the litter it is so much better.”

Caleb Pell said “This area is an absolute mess. Re-wilding, or whatever name you give it, is not an excuse for cutting costs. You still have to look after the area and in this case before the grass was cut the litter should have been removed. We are calling on the council to look again at this trial. We can’t afford for the same thing to happen again next year especially as the re-wilding schemes develop in the City Centre. ork is looking really neglected at the moment and poorly thought-out council schemes like this aren’t helping.”