WHETHER the grass is greener on the other side is always up for debate – but it's definitely longer in Chelmsford.
The city council is at loggerheads with the county council after it slashed funds for maintaining grass verges alongside footpaths, byways and highways. Now the council is refusing to cut the grass across the city.
In an e-mail to councillors, Keith Nicholson, director of public places, said: "Essex County Council has given notice of their intention to reduce almost by half the funding available for the maintenance of country ways and other public rights of way in 2014/15.
"Following discussions within Chelmsford City Council, the city council does not believe it is possible to meet the minimum acceptable standards for the reduced level of funding that will be available and would leave the city council potentially exposed to a considerable amount of criticism and other liabilities. Accordingly we have given notice to Essex County Council that the city council intends to fully withdraw from undertaking this work on their behalf."
The funding from County Hall also covers stile and bridge repairs, provision and maintenance of footpath and bridleway signs, and responding to specific service requests for grounds maintenance works along these routes. The city council downed tools at the start of the month and has referred any works needed to the county council.
But city council leader Roy Whitehead insists his authority isn't cut up over the matter.
"We're not at daggers drawn with them," he said. "The county council are saying it costs X to do and we are saying it costs Y – residents struggle to understand what councils do what and we don't want to do the job badly.
"I'm hoping next week to have discussions with county councillor Rodney Bass on it."
He was confident an agreement would be made before it was noticeable. People shouldn't notice a difference as they are only done two to three times a year."
Cllr Whitehead is also calling on County Hall to consolidate its maintenance funding pots.
Separate money is also set aside to maintain verges and footways, which the city council is continuing to do.
There is also £130,000 provided to highway rangers for small works such as repainting or straightening a signpost, cutting back obscuring vegetation or strimming an overgrown highway verge or cleaning road signs.
A county council spokesman said: "Essex County Council is happy to work collaboratively with all district, borough and city councils across Essex to deliver services, such as grass verge maintenance, in a cost effective and efficient way.
"We will continue to have discussions with all parties involved regarding flooding and other maintenance activities."
