Clydebank grass cutting chosen on tax bracket, claims source

A source within the local authority told the Clydebank Post a recent grievance around overgrown grassland in an area of Duntcoher - largely occupied by privately-owned homes - was immediately resolved by the Greenspace team springing into action and tending to the communal land.

This is in contrast to their response to a similar complaint reported last month by the Post, when council tenants in Auckland Place, Dalmuir, decided to pool their money together to get their shared grass area cut after the council reportedly only cut the fringes of it. 

It is claimed two similar complaints have been dealt with differently depended on social class (Image: Tom Grant)

This bit of grass just minutes from Fynloch Place remains untouched (Image: Tom Grant)

The source, who does not wish to be named for fear of his job, claims the Duntocher grass at Fynloch Place was mended because the area consists of privately owned homes as opposed to renters. 

He said: “Fynloch Place, they responded to a call of a complaint.

“Because of the person who complained, they decided to send up grasscutters and cut that area.”

Before adding: “It’s a place similar to the area of Auckland, just a vast area at the back of houses.

“The exact same. Only, it’s basically an area that is all homeowners rather than council tenants.”

It is alleged that the council cut the area after a complaint by residents - similar to that of people in Dalmuir (Image: Tom Grant)

Most of the homes on Auckland Place are under a council tax band B with Fynloch Place coming under band D.

That means residents in the Duntocher street are paying £1,398.98 for 2023/24 compared to £1088.10 in Dalmuir.

A council spokesperson said: "Residents from both areas contacted the council and were advised about the planned reduction in open space grass-cutting.

"Due to recreational use highlighted at both open spaces, an inspection was undertaken.

"Both sites were added to the grass-cutting programme and were cut last week."

The Post understands the residents of Auckland Place were indeed visited by council staff to say there had been a mistake and the land outside their home was actually meant to be cut in full by the local authority.

Staff then proceeded to cut the grass, which was already of shortened length due to having been cut by a private contractor just days before.