A Moray businessman is attempting to gather enough support in the community to get the grass cut after a friend’s dog cut an artery on a hidden glass bottle.
Beloved parks across the region have grown gradually more unkempt in recent months after the council pulled funding for the service to balance the books.
Attempts to organise a public response to the concerns in Elgin stalled last month after nobody attended a meeting organised by the local community council.
Now businessman Sandy Reid, owner of SLR Auto Repairs, has persuaded the group to make a second attempt next week after hearing other firms were also prepared to offer support.
He said: “This isn’t the council’s fault. With the money they’ve got they can either look after the elderly or cut grass, it’s a no-brainer for them really. I just want to help to restore a bit of civic pride.
“A few weeks ago one of my best pals nearly lost his dog because somebody had planted a glass bottle in the middle of Doocot Park, which cut one of its main arteries.
“Luckily they managed to carry the dog home, get it bandaged and taken to a vet and luckily they haven’t lost it.
“Doocot Park used to be great for letting the kids go out and play but you’ve hardly seen that this year because of the length of the grass. This is just about doing something for the community.”
Tractors were used as part of a community response to cut the grass in Doocot Park earlier in the summer after locals felt compelled to act.
Although that park and Seafield have had grass cutting funding restored by the local common good fund, concerns remain about other areas.
Elgin Community Council chairman Alistair Kennedy believes an organised effort to keep areas maintained will benefit everyone.
He said: “I don’t believe that every area needs to be cut but some would look better if they are maintained.”
The meeting will be taking place at Elgin Community Centre on Wednesday at 7pm.
