Grass cutting plea at Elgin playing fields
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THE grass is growing so high at Morriston playing fields in Elgin it's already broken two lawnmowers owned by a youth football club.
Elgin Boys Club is now asking Moray Council to reverse its decision not to cut the grass.
Mike Christie (80) has been helping out at the club for the past 54 years.
He said: "I've never known it this bad in all that time. There are hundreds of young people who use these playing fields every week and we really need some help.
"The rate the grass is growing you're going to need a combine harvester to cut it soon."
The playing fields, which are owned by a community trust, contain six pitches and are also home to athletics and rugby.
In addition, both the Army and the Fire Brigade use them for training.
Moray Council used to cut the grass. However that situation changed in February due to cost-cutting measures.
Mike along with groundsman Geordie Ross have been cutting the grass on the pitches since then.
The pair have also tended the areas immediately surrounding the pitches so that spectators have somewhere to stand.
However, attempts to tackle the long grass growing around the rest of the fields have resulted in damage to both the club's lawnmowers.
That includes a sit-on mower which the club bought for £5,000 three months ago, but is now waiting for repairs.
Mike, who has been made an honorary committee member of the football club due to his decades of service, continued: "This has got to be the most popular place in Moray for dog walkers.
"I'd say 99% of the owners are really good and try to pick up the dog mess.
"The trouble is the grass is so long now it isn't always easy to find it any more.
"So the result is that footballs and rugby balls get kicked off the pitches and roll into the grass.
"The kids then go to retrieve them and they get covered in dog mess.
"We must have had a dozen complaints now from parents.
"And I don't blame them – it's a health hazard."
