Glasgow parks staff will not be collecting rubbish this winter, council says

Workers employed to maintain Glasgow’s parks and gardens will not be redeployed to waste collection this winter as part of the council’s winter maintenance scheme.

Local authorities have hired additional staff for their parks to carry out the necessary work in the coming months to prepare them for the spring and summer logging season.

The issue was raised at yesterday’s full council meeting after concerns were raised over the decision to suspend the International Rose Trials at Tollcross Park indefinitely.

Councilor Stephen Docherty asked: “Why has this city administration allowed such actions to further damage the professional reputation of Glasgow horticulture.

“A nice green place has become a wilderness and Glasgow’s best park is not in Glasgow but in East Renfrewshire – Rooken Glen Park.”

Elected members were told there were ongoing budgetary pressures within the council and staff numbers had fallen over the last 25 years.

Councilor Ruiari Kelly said: “In terms of the parks we have at the moment, there are a huge number of excellent parks in Glasgow.

“Despite the current challenges facing all local authorities, public perception and satisfaction with our parks is among the highest in the council.

“To try to imply that the best parks we have in Glasgow are not actually in Glasgow, I think is insulting to our staff.

“We have also gone through a recruitment process and will be adding a number of additional staff to our parks and we have a new winter program in place this year to ensure park staff remain in the parks doing much of the work we know is needed execute. During the winter period, work was carried out to prepare the parks for spring and summer felling.

“We will have a winter plan that will not distract them from garbage collection, which has been a problem in the past.

“These are the measures we are taking to ensure our parks remain a pleasant place for people in Glasgow to spend time.”

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