Villagers cut down 'neglected' council land grass

Villagers have begun cutting down "neglected" grass on council land outside their homes after claiming requests to the local authority to cut it had been "ignored".

Residents in Lepton, Kirklees, took matters into their own hands to trim the grass, which they said had reached 1m (3.3ft) in height, ahead of judging for the Yorkshire in Bloom competition.

Almondbury ward councillor Pip Harvey said the grass was not only far from competition-ready, but that taller weeds near the front of houses were "affecting residents".

Kirklees Council's executive director for place, David Shepherd, said the remaining verges would be cut this week in time for the village's judging.

"We understand people's frustration while waiting for the grass on council land to be cut," added Shepherd, who praised the efforts of locals and wished them luck in the competition.

Lepton participates in the Yorkshire in Bloom competition every year.

Harvey and her fellow Almondbury ward councillor Gill Floyd said they had chased the council over the issue for "weeks", but had been "ignored", with large green spaces in the village left "neglected".

After their requests went unresponded, the pair "decided to take it into our own hands", Harvey told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Alongside the Lepton Village Preservation Society, the pair stepped in to hack down the towering grass.

Harvey said: "This is a community. This is everything that Gill and I believe in, and we support.

"We understand the difficulties and challenges the council faces, but all of these individuals here, in support of Lepton preservation, are what communities are about."

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