Picture: Becky Saunderson. Image No.044667
BUCKIE’s civic spirit has been praised following the community response to Moray Council’s reduction in grass-cutting services. Many areas have had the services completely withdrawn while others have retained very limited coverage as part of the local authority’s bid to slice £15 million from their budget. The result has been many public areas, including some parks, left with long, impenetrable grass and weeds. In the wake of the controversial decision, Buckie and District Community Council (BDCC) vowed to organise the cutting of high-priority areas in the town, as we reported on July 16. The group acted quickly and have already arranged for a number of areas to be cut. However, the spontaneous response to the challenges facing local communities has left BDCC chairman Kevin Mckay stunned and proud. He issued an appeal for those who have been beavering away anonymously to come forward so they can receive due praise for their sterling efforts. He said: “It’s been amazing how people have been stepping up to the plate completely off their own bat, from cutting areas of grass near their homes to even weeding the roundabout near Tesco.
“To be honest, I always knew there was a great community spirit in Buckie but this has amazed me. There have been people tackling large and small areas without being asked. “Where we know who has done an area we’re delighted to give them a huge ‘Thanks you!’ on Facebook but many people shy away from the limelight. It would be brilliant to know who these folk are so we can give them the credit they richly deserve. “The support we’ve had since we announced our own plans to take over some of the grass-cutting duties has been magnificent, people are really getting behind what we’re trying to do here.”
Full story in Banffshire Advertiser 3rd September 2019