Long grass '¨an '˜invitation '¨to fly-tippers'

Grass has been left uncut at Gynn Square

That is the concern being raised by residents in North Shore where items have been discovered dumped in a popular Promenade park.

Coun Danny Scott is worried allowing the grass to grow will increase the chances of areas being used as a dumping ground.

He has already discovered a small trolley dumped in the sunken gardens and believes it could just be the first of many cases.

Coun Scott said: “The grass at the sunken gardens is a real issue.

“It’s an invitation to fly tipping.

“There’s already been one item dumped there.

“It was a four-wheeled trolley but you could only see two wheels the grass was that long.

“It looks neglected and people think if the council don’t care about it they don’t have to care.

“It’s a downward spiral.”

Coun Scott is particularly concerned because of the location, at Gynn Square, between some major North Shore hotels and the town centre.

He believes a lack of care and attention at such a prominent location, which is passed by thousands of vehicles and pedestrians during the Illuminations, will reflect badly on the resort.

“It’s a holiday area, it’s somewhere that visitors see and go to.

“If I went to a holiday area and saw something like this I’d think it reflected badly on the whole town.”

Blackpool Council has cut some grass at Gynn Square but areas away from the main play park remain untouched.

Grass at Stanley Park and on the resort’s main sports pitches will continue to be cut.

And the authority has made it clear that if councillors would like other areas to be cut in their areas they should contribute from their own ward budgets.

Coun Graham Cain, cabinet secretary for Blackpool Council, said: “This year we have published a priority list for grass cutting that will mean that popular and economically important  areas like the Promenade and Stanley Park, as well as dozens of sports pitches and community parks, will continue to be cut frequently and kept to a decent standard.

“All councillors are aware that we cannot continue to maintain all areas of green space to the same standard that we have in previous years.

“We are more than happy to discuss options with  councillors if they want to allocate some of their ward funding to grounds maintenance.”