Residents left in the long grass

Roy Smyth, who lives in the area, said the grass had previously been kept by the Department for Regional Development but had not been cut since June last year.

And that looks like it will remain the case after DRD Minister Danny Kennedy cited budget cuts for the reduction in services.

A DRD spokesperson said: “The Minister, in his briefing to the Regional Development Committee on 25 March, outlined the pressures on the Department’s Resource budget at the potential impact on routine maintenance services.

“He said; ‘As it stands my budget does not provide for sufficient service provision in areas like repair of potholes and traffic lights and other measures such as gully emptying and grass cutting at junctions.

“Road Inspections will continue as normal, however, only the highest priority potholes will be repaired. Gully emptying and grass cutting services will be provided on a reduced scale.’”