Councillor offers his services to look after vulnerable residents’ gardens

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.

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.

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.

“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.

“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]

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