SIGNIFICANTLY overhauled service standards have been introduced by Harlow Council as its maintenance company HTS begins the town’s grass cutting programme for 2025.

The new standards will ensure that there are radical improvements to how grass is cut to improve the appearance of the town as part of the council’s mission to ‘renew our neighbourhoods.’

The new service standards mean that:

HTS will cut the grass every 10 working days as opposed to every 17 working days to ensure it is kept shorter and tidier.

Grass will be cut and strimmed at the same time by the same team of three so that grass is not overgrown around obstacles.

All areas will be strimmed rather than using weed control solutions which kill the grass.
The grass cutting season will be significantly extended and now run from the start of March to the end of October to ensure the town looks tidier.

Litter will be cleared before grass is cut.
Strimming will include self-seeded areas around trees and adjacent to properties to stop unsightly growth.

New inspections of completed work and revised performance measures to match the new standards.
Further changes to the contract and service standards are also set to be introduced for the cutting back of bushes and hedgerows through the spring, summer, and autumn to ensure paths and sightlines are kept clear for pedestrians and road users to improve safety across the town.

Commenting on the changes, Councillor Nicky Purse, cabinet portfolio holder for sustainability and environment, said:

“In recent years, we have made improvements to the grass cutting programme in the town, but this year we have gone much further. We have completely changed the contract and the service standards to ensure that the grass is cut more regularly, but also that litter is removed, and strimming takes place all at the same time. This is the standard of work that both our residents and the council expect in order to properly maintain our wonderful green spaces.

“We will also be stopping the use of harmful weed control solutions and instead strimming weeds and self-seeded areas and introducing inspections of completed work to ensure that the work being carried out meets our new standards.

“We are on a mission to renew our neighbourhoods, and these changes are another positive step to deliver that. Additionally, we are ensuring that bushes and hedgerows are cut back regularly to maintain clear sightlines, improving safety for pedestrians and road users across the town.”