By Barbara Dumphy

GREAT Ayton parish councillors are to complain to North Yorkshire County Council about its decision to withdraw funding for the grass cutting of community areas in the village.

At the parish council’s AGM last Thursday, councillors were unanimous in their criticism of the funding cuts.

Dozens of residents in the village have complained to councillors about the neglect of community grass areas which are overgrown and full of dandelions and at the meeting Cllr Ron Kirk said: "North Yorkshire County Council has let this community and this village down. We already have to provide funds for the Discovery Centre and now the county expects us to provide funding for the community grass areas or to ask residents to cut the areas themselves.

"We are very proud of our village and tourism is vital for this community but there are nettles and dandelions where there should be mown grass," he added. "Some of the grass is up to 18 inches high. We are being let down by the county which is transferring more and more responsibility and costs to us at parish level."

Cllr John Fletcher, vice-chairman, said: "We need to complain to NYCC. We can’t leave the village to become a hayfield. The grass is now so long in some places that our machine is unable to cut it."

Areas that are severely overgrown include community grass areas on the Scottowe, Langbaurgh, Marwood, Wainstones and Roseberry estates.

Newly elected chairman of the parish council, Cllr Richard Hudson, said: "We are being pushed into a corner. If we have to pay for this grass cutting we will have to make savings elsewhere or we may well have to raise the precept in the future. Tourism is very important for this village and overgrown community grass areas let the whole village down."

Cllr Gary Readman said he was disgusted by the funding cuts by North Yorkshire County Council. "They have absolved themselves of their responsibilities and left it to the parish council."

Visitor Ruth Brook, from Huddersfield, said: "My friends and I come to North Yorkshire several times a year to walk and I always stay in Great Ayton, which is a lovely village, but I’ve noticed on this visit that many of the grass areas are overgrown and uncared for, which creates a poor impression."

County councillor Heather Moorhouse said: "All funding for grass cutting in North Yorkshire has been reduced but the county will still cut grass areas where it is deemed essential for roadside safety. Some parishes have welcomed this as they wish verges to grow to their fullness and encourage wild flowers.

"In February, the NYCC executive approved changes to the council’s urban grass cutting standards as part of the 2020 North Yorkshire savings programme. The changes to the grass cutting service are estimated to save North Yorkshire County Council £500,000 annually."