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A council will review its approach to letting some areas grow out as part of biodiversity efforts after criticism. Like a number of councils, Redcar and Cleveland have previously identified council managed green spaces where wildflowers are seeded and wildlife associated with them such as bees and butterflies similarly encouraged.
This also allows such areas to be spared from regular cutting regimes. However Eston ward councillor Stephen Martin suggested there had been insufficient consultation over the areas selected.
He also said some simply consisted of "weeds and nettles" which looked "unsightly". Asking a question at a meeting of the council, Cllr Martin, a Conservative, said: "The number of complaints I've had this year from residents regarding land that has been left for biodiversity is unreal. Can we please have a plan that ensures these areas do not encroach onto paths and have been planted correctly?"
Cabinet member for neighbourhoods, Councillor Adam Brook said: "There should have been consultation with ward members on all the biodiversity locations across the borough and I apologise if that did not happen.
"We will look to re-engage with ward councillors to review arrangements for these existing areas and identify any further potential areas. As part of this we will look to agree on regular review dates so arrangements can be amended and altered."
Cllr Martin said residents should also be communicated with in terms of any proposals to adopt areas for biodiversity. He said: "Community meetings could be held and this way the residents have an opportunity to have their say."
The councillor also suggested the current policy was in some instances denying children areas to play on. Cllr Brook said communication needed to be "ward member led" and social media and newsletters were sometimes missed.
Councils are required to consider biodiversity as part of the 2021 Environment Act and this duty extends to decisions and policy making around land management, planning and other functions. At the same time, basic issues such as grass cutting and maintenance of public areas is often a bone of contention in local communities and intermittently prompts complaints from councillors.
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