A council leader has responded to a backlash from residents over plans to scrap No Mow May in one part of Kent.

Medway took part in the national initiative which called on councils to allow parks and road verges to go unmowed for a month to encourage wildlife and biodiversity.

But last week council leader Alan Jarrett announced the Towns will not be taking part in the same way next year, after people complained about the unsightly state of some grass verges.

Cllr Jarrett labelled No Mow May as "poorly thought out and poorly implemented" but wanted to make it clear that Medway would not be scrapping it altogether.

He said next year they will have "a more refined, carefully thought our approach rather than a blanket let's just not cut anything", adding: "Our green spaces need management. It's not just about biodiversity, it is a matter of public amenity as well."

He added: "What we have got to remember is that our journey on wildlife enhancement and biodiversity, the wild verge programme, was introduced the year before and had nothing to do with No Mow May. We had a consultant in to advise on that and that's something we took forward independently and will continue with.

"But I'm afraid the blanket No Mow May, just leaving all our green spaces to grow rampantly without any thought being given to it, is not acceptable and is not going to happen next year."

Speaking at a meeting last week, Cllr Jarrett said the council's Twitter account attracted complaints from residents about the state of verges, with some saying how it was causing issues with drivers' line of sight at some junctions.

Plantlife, which led the No Mow May campaign, has highlighted how its Good Verge Guide contains clear advice on maintaining road safety while allowing the grass to grow.

It states: "When implemented, the practical steps outlined in this guide will help to maximise flowering plant diversity on our verges and the subsequent benefits for invertebrates and other wildlife. These guidelines recognise that roads must be kept safe for all users, and that cutting safety cuts, sightlines and junctions are a priority and must be carried out to ensure safety.”

When asked if council contractors had followed the guidelines, Cllr Jarrett said: "I don't know, I've not seen the Plantlife guidance and I don't know if our officers have either."

Cllr Jarrett also argued hayfever sufferers had been forgotten: "The other thing we have to think about as well which seems to have been totally ignored in all of this, is people that suffer from hayfever at this time of year including myself. I can only speak from personal experience, this has been the worst bout of hayfever I have had for many years and I don't know if there is any correlation between that and No Mow May, I'm not suggesting there is, all I'm saying is that I have suffered very badly from it this year."

The chief executive of Plantlife Ian Dunn said he still hopes to work with Medway Council in the future.

He said: "The public response to our rallying call to #NoMowMay was fantastic. Plantlife was inundated with messages from nature-lovers delighting in the wildlife that flourished in slightly wilder gardens and green spaces.

“We also saw great support from councils who embraced the benefits a little less mowing can bring – including reduced carbon emissions. We look forward to continuing to work with Medway and other councils to help deliver green spaces that work for plants, pollinators and people."

A poll on KentOnline found the majority of people who responded were in support of the campaign but many wanted to see it done differently.

In the survey, 35% said it was a vital green project that should be continued, 36% said it should be done differently and 28% were in support of it being scrapped altogether.

An online petition has been set up calling on No Mow May to continue, but with some changes.

It states: "We the undersigned petition the council to ensure they continue with the very successful No Mow May, but with alterations to ensure certain areas are cut for safety reasons. We also would like a better communication campaign that informs residents about the campaign and it’s importance."

The petition was created by Rainham resident Stuart Bourne from Medway Liberal Democrats and supported by Medway Green Party.

Kate Belmonte, a member of Medway Green Party's coordinators' team, said: "We were both absolutely gutted to read Alan Jarrett’s comments on the matter but at least he accepted that they had poorly thought through the topic prior to rolling it out across Medway.

"The lack of engagement with the residents led residents to believe that the council were simply being lazy and not doing their job.

"The scheme itself is vital for the ecology and biodiversity of not just Medway but the country as a whole."

Twydall resident Kate, who is also the group's press officer, suggested the scheme could be tweaked by making sure areas were cleared for dog walkers and graduating the way grass at the roadside is cut to make sure drivers' line of sight is maintained.

She added: "Furthermore, the fact that certain road exits - i.e. around roundabouts - were slightly obscured did mean that traffic slowed and this would have reduced air pollution if only for a short period of time."

Cllr Jarrett's criticism of the scheme prompted a number of comments online.

Craig Grindley wrote: "Perhaps the best thing to do to keep both those who support the project and those don't happy would be to repeat it, but to cut areas where there could be a danger such as at busy junctions.

"It would be very unfair to abandon the whole project, however Medway council don't strike me as an environmentally friendly council and they probably don't give a monkeys about nature and butterflies, so it comes as no surprise that they want to give up on it already."

Gill Cleaver wrote: "It's like councils have jumped on the green bandwagon, purely as a money -saving measure. They have approached this with a total lack of understanding or finesse. I don't disagree entirely as I understand the need for it, but parks still need to be usable. Roads still need to have proper visibility in the right places."

Elaine Eades wrote: "No Mow May is an important conservation project and should not be scrapped, but it is now July and the grass verges in our village have still not been mown and now look neglected and untidy."

The petition can be viewed on the council's website here

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