Hereford man banned from tending grass

11:50am Wednesday 15th October 2008

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A MAN banned from tending to grass outside his Hereford home has vowed to carry on.

Brian Hubbard has been mowing, weeding and edging the grass verge outside his house in Dorchester Way, Belmont, for the past four years.

Now Herefordshire Council has ordered him to stop as he is “encroaching” on council land.

A letter from the council’s parks, countryside and leisure development service, dated September 8, was recieved by Brian on October 9 and gave him “28 days to return the area to its original state.”

It ordered “the removal of garden tools and furnishings, path/bed covering material,” and “all vegetation not in keeping with the surrounding area.”

Brian was also accused of “blocking up gate way access” and the “undertaking of maintenance.”

The letter warned: “If there is still an encroachment issue with the property further action will be taken which may result in the above works being carried out at your expense.”

Brian said a number of officers from the department visited his home while he was serving on Belmont Rural Parish Council as a tree warden, and all were aware of him looking after the verge.

“I like the place to be tidy and attractive - and I know the council’s contractors cannot do it all,” he said.

“I take pride in the area and rake leaves in the autumn. Do they want me to put dandelions and daisies in?

“The other day there were people smashing glass over the road. I got a broom, went over and swept it up, is that encroachment?

“I’m going to ignore the letter. They won’t quench my actvities.”

Belmont Councillor Heather Davies said Mr Hubbard and his wife should be congratulated for taking pride in the area.

“When I was on my way to see them, the road looked a mess because the grass had been cut but the cuttings left. Mr Hubbard should be thanked for picking his cuttings up,” she said.

“If more people were like that the area would look really nice. We should be supporting him because its brilliant what he does - not sending him letters like this.”

In a statement, Herefordshire Council said: “We are aware of Mr Hubbard’s endeavours to tend the land next to his home in Dorchester Way and commend him for his public spiritedness."

"We apologise if he feels the letter he received from us is heavy-handed. We are happy to meet Mr Hubbard to discuss the issue."

The 1,400 public spaces in the county are maintained by the council’s contractors who are paid out of the public purse.