SOUTHEND’S overgrown grass verges have been compared to a “jungle” after the council was accused failing to keep residential areas tidy.

Mark Flewitt, a former councillor, has demanded answers from the new Labour-led administration claiming “foot high” grass is angering residents.

Former leader Tony Cox compared parts of Shoebury to “a jungle” because grass is so high.

Southend Council confirmed last month that four members of the council’s parks service - responsible for maintaining grass verges - took voluntary redundancy earlier this year.

Two members of the council’s parks team were injured in a crash in Royal Artillery Way but short term cover has been recruited.

Mr Flewitt said: “The new leader of the council should have come out or told officers to put a statement together on what they found. However people voted in the local elections they didn’t vote for grass verges not to be cut.

“To not tell people who are getting agitated about verges not being cut is not good enough. I can speak for the Astronaut Estate and it’s just been left and it’s over foot high. Residents shouldn’t have to go to a chief executive to say we’re paying our council tax and you’re not doing one of the fundamental things that we’ve usually relied on happening regardless of the administration.”

Southend Council also pointed to “wet conditions” which have made cutting grass verges difficult but insists all verges are cut every 35 days.

Mr Flewitt said: “Those poor chaps who were really badly injured, I expected there to be some time drag but the council still didn’t put anything out to say they were going to have to revise things.”

Mr Cox said “a lot of the backlog” is down to the serious crash.

He said: “It’s down to keeping people informed in terms of when they can expect the grass to be cut. Most parts of Shoebury look like a jungle.”

A council spokesperson said: “Our grass cutting programme has been underway since early April and will continue until October.

“It was also agreed as part of the challenging budget setting process for 2024/25 that there would be a review of the parks service, which has seen a reduction in seasonal contract staff and some members of staff deciding to take voluntary redundancy as part of this.

“However, despite this, our staff are working hard to get round the city. Grass verges are being cut on average every 35 days. Areas around trees, lampposts, fence lines, and railings are strimmed every third time we cut the grass.

“The parks team continue to work closely with the highways team to ensure that sight lines are clear for drivers and pedestrians.”