Legal Questions and Answers by
Jonathan Stones of John Barkers
Question :-
The grass verges in the main thoroughfare of Tetney village are owned by East Lindsey District Council. Although these verges are not our legal responsibility the residents have, without complaint, been maintaining and mowing the grass verges on the council’s behalf for many years.
However, the council will only collect the grass cuttings if placed in special green plastic bags provided by them at a cost of 65 pence per bag. Let’s say on a conservative basis that fifty Tetney residents each fill three bags per week from the grass verge cuttings, this amounts to revenue of more than £2,500 per annum.
If we can provide this service to the council free of charge to ensure our village retains its outstanding beauty, we strongly believe the council should at a minimum reciprocate by providing bags free of charge to ensure our continued assistance.
We would be very interested to know if we have a legal argument for the free collectionof grass cuttings.
Answer :-
You may well have a moral argument against the town hall but, unfortunately, not a legal one. You are not legally obliged to mow the grass and they’re not legally obliged to provide free green bags.
A round the table chat with your local council members would seem the best way forward. If the council does not come round to your way of thinking you could of course just stop mowing their verges. Alternatively could you just not compost the stuff?
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