GRASS cutting which has been put off during the coronavirus pandemic will resume in Renfrewshire next week.

Renfrewshire Council is responsible for regularly cutting grass around the area’s main roads, town centres and parks.

But with lots of staff being redeployed to vital services such as waste collection and many workers having to self-isolate due to Covid-19, grass cutting jobs have been suspended throughout the lockdown period after being deemed as “non-essential.”

Council chiefs have now confirmed, however, that staff are in a position to restart work on “priority areas” from next week.

Councillor James MacLaren, who represents Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank, said he welcomed the return of the service and thanked all volunteers who had helped to keep green spaces tidy during lockdown.

He added: “Grass cutting is a basic service people have had to do without during the Covid-19 pandemic as council resources were understandably diverted elsewhere.

“It is welcome to hear all areas are set to be covered over the next week or so, which will make a huge difference to communities across Renfrewshire.

“I applaud those who have carried out voluntary grass cutting during this time in their communities, giving up their own time to make areas look tidy.

“The grass cutting will take time to return to normal but the resumption of these services is a positive step in the right direction as we return to a sense of normality.”

The return of grass cutting is another sign of council services gradually starting to return to normal, with recycling centres also set to open on Monday.

The council has asked residents to be patient with staff as they work their way through all green spaces which need attention over the coming weeks.

A council spokesman said: “Throughout the current pandemic, we have been working with a reduced workforce and our teams have been reallocated to help provide our essential services, including maintaining a full waste collection service for residents.

“We have been following national guidance and considered grass cutting to be non-essential and therefore it was suspended until further notice.

“We are now in a position where this can restart and our teams will work on priority areas throughout Renfrewshire over the coming weeks. We would ask for residents to be patient as the service returns and we will reach all areas as soon as we can.”

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond

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