COUNCIL chiefs are hoping normal grass cutting service will resume at Borders cemeteries this year.

Scottish Borders Council’s policy is to carry out work at each graveyard every 20 working days.

But the coronavirus pandemic led to staff being redeployed to other services throughout last year.

Last week, John Curry, who is SBC’s service director of assets and infrastructure, said the pandemic had been “problematic”, but hoped the 20-day cycle would resume this year.

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He told Galashiels Community Council: “It is fair to say that COVID has had an impact.

“We obviously introduced a new grass cutting regime in 2018, where the majority of cemeteries in the Borders are cut on a 20-working-day rota.

“In addition to that we spray weedkiller and undertake selected strimming around headstones.

“That is a consistent approach we have taken across all 154 cemeteries.

“Last year, however, due to the pandemic, the staff who generally deal with that type of work were redeployed, assisting waste, education and also some community support work.

“This meant that normal grass cutting regimes could not be met.

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“We are hoping this year that we won’t have those same constraints and we will be able to prioritise work accordingly and get back to our grass cutting regime, which is cutting grass on a 20-day rota.

“Last year was problematic, but we are hoping we can get back to an even keel again this year.”

The 20-working-day rota was introduced by councillors in 2018.

SBC said “this method is widely used throughout the UK and Scotland as an appropriate, sustainable and efficient method of maintaining green space”.