An update on the Council grass cutters
I have received correspondence from an angry resident with regards to the state of the shrubs in Eastcourt Lane.
I have not been along the whole of Eastcourt Lane for a while, so I have not had an opportunity to see the shrubs in question. However, I would like to point a few things out about this and the state of grass verges in Medway.
Some people are suggesting that certain areas are being neglected because of the supposed “minimal importance” of those areas (including here in Twydall). This is not the case at all. My understanding is that many green spaces across the whole of the Medway Towns have been neglected by Quadron, the company the Council employs to keep the grass cut.
Medway Council has a strict policy with its contractors. Quadron have 48 hours to rectify any identified problems before being slapped with a £100 fine. Since April, Quadron have received more than 230 fines. Their environment Managing Director, Clive Ivil, said:
There have been some problems with grass cutting programme in Medway due to some operational difficulties. We have put an action plan in place and I can confirm that we have taken on additional staff to assist with this as well as extra tractors and mowers.
Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Services, Cllr Howard Doe, added:
This is a serious matter and the contractors are working hard to address the current shortfalls. We have agreed an action plan, and at their own cost, the contractor has brought in additional grass cutting teams, including a hit squad. We are also bringing in additional sub-contractors, again at the contractor’s cost, to tackle a number of sites where priority action is required. More must be done, and will be done, to meet the standard of grass cutting expected in Medway.
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I wonder how much Quadron must be getting paid not to worry about £230,000 in fines….
June 21st, 2008 at 00:18All of Medway let alone Twydall is looking a mess, Charlotte Drive of Marshall Road public grass areas are a real mess including the small grass park area in the estate.
Also some of the quality of the cutting is poor, very messy and you can just tell all rushed and no view on quality control.
Needless to say sign of the times. Maybe when the tories get in next election it will be better.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:36A couple of thoughts I have had on the preceding two comments…
First, the fines: I don’t think it’s so much a matter of not worrying about the fines. The company clearly hasn’t managed the contract very well, and is now, somewhat belatedly, waking up to how much it is costing them while they are failing to meet their obligations.
Beyond that, they will be aware of the “grapevine” that means other councils (potential clients for contractors) are watching how they perform. If they want future business, they need to do the job and be seen to be doing it. Otherwise, they won’t survive for very long.
On the second comment, I agree that some of their recent work has been rushed, just to deal with the backlog. The next sweep should bring all places up to the usual high standard.
To be fair to Quadron and all such contractors, the somewhat odd weather pattern has affected the whole country and created similar problems all over the nation. That grapevine I mentioned has been useful in this respect, providing nationwide ‘intell’, so we know we are far from being alone in the grass-cutting etc arena.
As Ramires (Sean Connery) said to the Highlander (Conor MacLeod): “THese things happen…”
July 1st, 2008 at 05:57