Councillor offers his services to look after vulnerable residents’ gardens

Coun Steve Jones  pictured with Bryn resident Jacqueline HodsonCoun Steve Jones  pictured with Bryn resident Jacqueline Hodson
Coun Steve Jones pictured with Bryn resident Jacqueline Hodson | jpimedia
A councillor is helping the elderly and vulnerable by offering to cut their garden grass so they can enjoy the outdoors during the coronavirus lockdown.

Coun Steve Jones has once again taken to sprucing up residents’ gardens in Bryn with the hope that they can get the fresh air they need.

The green-fingered councillor has cut the grass of residents in the past who struggle with a low income - but this time has the added incentive of helping those get outdoors who are self isolating and lonely.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This year, Coun Jones was worried he wouldn’t be able to do the grass cutting due to social-distancing but he has got permission from Wigan Council to it once again.

Councillor Steve Jones pictured with Bryn resident Jacqueline HodsonCouncillor Steve Jones pictured with Bryn resident Jacqueline Hodson
Councillor Steve Jones pictured with Bryn resident Jacqueline Hodson | jpimedia

Complete with a new lawn mower and strimmer, he will aim to cut the grass of 15 houses on a three-weekly rota - and more than half a dozen people have signed up already.

Coun Jones said: “Every year I do grass cutting free of charge for residents in Bryn. With the lockdown, I didn’t know if I would be able to do it this year.

“But I’ve had permission from the council to do it again as I can volunteer through the council as a volunteer which makes me a key worker.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“This is to help the elderly and vulnerable who don’t have a lot of money to cut their grass, and so they can enjoy the outdoors when they are self-isolating as many will become lonely.”

Coun Jones said he will be running the free service throughout the summer and has appealed for other residents to come forward if they need help cutting their grass.

He said: “We’ve already had seven or eight people sign up but I usually do 15, so there are some slots available if people contact me.

“I want to get across that this service is for the elderly and vulnerable and those who don’t have a lot of money, and I can’t offer it to anyone else.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Also I wouldn’t want to be putting grass cutters out of business or the work of local authority staff.

“It’s just really important during the lockdown for elderly people to enjoy the outdoors and cutting the grass in their gardens is a way of doing this.”

If you need help with grass cutting, contact Coun Jones on 07803320183 or [email protected]

A message from the Editorial Director, Gillian Parkinson:

Thank you for reading this story on our website.

But I also have an urgent plea to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality local news on this free-to-read site and in print, please purchase a copy of our newspaper as well.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on our town centres and many of our valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you buying a copy when you pop out for your essential shop or subscribing for delivery.

Our journalists are highly trained by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards anywhere in the world. Our content is universally trusted - as all independent research proves.

As Baroness Barran said in a House of Lords debate this week on the importance of journalists: "Not only are they a trusted source of facts, but they will have a role to play in rallying communities and getting the message across about how we can keep ourselves and our families safe, and protect our NHS. Undoubtedly, they have a critical role."

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. In return we will continue to forensically cover the local news - not only the impact of the virus but all the positive and uplifting news happening in these dark days.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

We thank all our readers and advertisers for their understanding and support - and we wish YOU all the best in the coming weeks. Keep safe, and follow the Government advice. Thank you.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE:

You can subscribe for delivery by contacting us at [email protected] or calling us on 0330 4033004 for details of a participating newsagent near you.

News you can trust since 1853
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice