Border Telegraph | News | Council machine trims budget

Wednesday, 20th August, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 25th June, 2008 09:00

Council machine trims budget

By Ally McGilvray

Comments (0)

Print Article

Image related to story, see caption or article text

VERY TRIM: A worker demonstrates the Spider 2.

TRIMMING council budgets has hit the headlines again.

But now cash-strapped chiefs at Scottish Borders Council have forked out £20,000 to buy a remote-controlled grass-cutter, named the Spider 2.

It is designed to mow areas deemed too dangerous for local authority parks workers, as well as slopes out of reach of traditional lawn mowers.

Whilst it is not the first to use the machine, the local authority is believed to be the first in Scotland to buy one.

The Spider 2, which runs on unleaded fuel and reach speeds of up to seven kilometres an hour, can be operated by a remote-control unit from up to 80 yards away.

It measures 1358mm in length, 1200mm in width and 913mm in height and can turn 360 degrees.

However, some critics will fail to be impressed by the purchase of the latest technology at a time when the council is cutting its budgets.

A Scottish Borders Council spokesperson said: “It is vital for areas that are too steep for operators to safely mow with a traditional mower where they would have to be pushing or sitting on the machine.

“This means that areas that previously couldn't be mowed for health and safety reasons can now be dealt with.

“It also has the advantage over some hand-held alternatives as it takes away the problems of noise and vibrations which can stop machines being usable eight hours a day.”

She added: “The council is now working out the best way to maximise use of the new machine, to cover as much of the Borders as possible in the shortest possible time.”

Council chiefs have recently been criticised for cutting school budgets which prompted fears that pupils would have to take their own toilet rolls to class.

One parent, who did not wish to be named, said: “I think this grass cutter sounds like a fantastic machine – every big kids dream. But it’s a shame the council felt it was more important to spend money on that than on our children’s future.”

amcgilvray@bordertelegraph.com

Comments