Grass cutting operations to be scaled down due to budget cuts

Speaking at council on Tuesday night Transport NI Divisional Manager, Deirdre Mackle, said they were in a ‘difficult position’ at present as she confirmed many of their grass cutting sites would be restricted to one cut during the summer.

Cllr Barney Fitzpatrick said: “In the interests of road safety hedges at junctions should be kept trimmed.”

Cllr Padraig McShane asked if Transport NI had consulted with council about verge cutting in Moyle, as it was the only legacy council which relied solely on Roads Service to maintain them.

Ms Mackle said they were ‘engaging with council’. “There are very difficult times,” said Ms Mackle. “We are trying to gauge what we can do collectively and we would encourage the Executive to help us.”

Cllr Alan Robinson asked if the winter service would be effected in a similar way.

In reply Ms Mackle said: “We are planning to deliver the winter service and hope we can do what we normally do.”

Alderman Gerry Mullan said estates in Limavady are set to be ‘overrun with weeds’ unless Transport NI do something about it.

Ms Mackle, confirmed at Tuesday night’s Causeway Coast and Glens Council meeting budget constraints had meant their summer service had been scaled back.