Throughout lockdown we have had to make some significant changes to the way we deliver services to ensure that we continue to protect our workers, our residents and ultimately help to save lives. We also want to support our communities and residents to make safe and healthy choices during this difficult period.
We had to suspend a number of outdoor services activities, but as the government guidance changes, we continue to review our services so that wherever possible, we can support the health and wellbeing of our communities.
Play parks
All of our play parks and multi-use games arenas reopened on Monday 29 June.
We would ask members of the public to follow some basic guidelines in accordance with government guidance so that everyone can stay safe while having fun in the park:
Safety in play areas
To keep your children safe while they play please:
- don't come to our play parks if you have symptoms of coronavirus
- maintain appropriate physical distancing from people not in your household whilst in the play park and on equipment
- bring some disinfectant wipes or similar with you to clean hands and surfaces whilst using the equipment
- catch any coughs and sneezes in a tissue or the crook of your elbow and dispose of tissues responsibly
We hope you have a fun day in the park!
Garden care services
The garden care service is being delivered to existing applicants at this time. This will support the health and wellbeing of our residents by allowing them to safely access green space within their own gardens.
Cemeteries
Our priority will be to support bereavement services in the first instance, with a focus on cemeteries.
Amenity space maintenance
Amenity space maintenance has been reintroduced on a phased basis to areas which can be easily accessed by our grass cutting teams. This will include large/medium sized areas maintained by tractors and ride on mowers, which are operated by a single operator.
Strimming, weed killing
Services such as strimming (edge maintenance), weed killing and pedestrian mowers which cover smaller and corner areas, was reintroduced at the start of August 2020. We will continue with this maintenance programme until each area has had the necessary work carried out.
Thank you
We are very grateful for the support we have received from our communities, and particularly those who have volunteered to help with litter picking activities. We have already been working with local communities to provide them with amenity maintenance kits along with litter picking equipment. This support helps to ensure that we keep East Ayrshire a clean, green and vibrant place.
Volunteering
If anyone in your community is interested in volunteering to help with litter picking or grounds maintenance, please contact Outdoor.Amenities@east-ayrshire.gov.uk.
Frequently asked questions
We have introduced a phased approach to delivering services. This will be in line with current government guidance and will support the wellbeing and mental health of our residents. It will be delivered where resources allow and in a way that ensures the safety of our employees and the public.
It’s important that we respect our cemeteries and make sure that our sports fields are maintained in a way that allows them to be brought back in to use as soon as possible once the lockdown restrictions are eased.
This, along with the maintenance of local green space and supported living garden care, means that as far as possible, we can provide spaces for people to exercise in and enjoy, thereby supporting residents’ wellbeing and mental health.
We are able to carry out these services whilst adhering to the social distancing guidance and we would ask that members of the public support us by maintaining a two metre distance from our employees.
The phased approach represents our priority programme for returning services. This is explained below:
Phase 1 - commenced 27 April 2020
- garden care
- cemeteries
- sports fields
- supported living areas
Phase 2 - commenced 4 May 2020
- tractor areas (large areas)
- ride on areas (medium sized areas that tractors don’t cut)
- cemeteries (strimming around headstones and weed killing)
- fly-tipping (only where there is an immediate danger)
Phase 3 – services that will return once resources allow
- strimming (edges)
- weed killing
- pedestrian mower (smaller areas and corner sites)
- fly-tipping (please see FAQ on fly-tipping below)
Please note the above services may be subject to change within short timescales if critical services require assistance.
Yes! We currently have volunteers helping within communities, doing litter picking and grass cutting.
Please contact our Outdoor Amenities section by emailing Outdoor.Amenties@east-ayrshire.gov.uk and a member of the team will contact you with further information.
We will provide equipment and tools in the form of an amenity maintenance kit (see below) and litter picking packs.
Wherever you collect litter, we will arrange with you to have this uplifted and disposed of safely.
Training will be provided for everyone who volunteers. What’s in the community resilience kits:
Resilience Kit 1 - litter picking
- litter picker(s)
- bags
- disposable gloves
- contact details for uplift at designated area
Resilience Kit 2 - grass cutting
- small rotary mower
- 1 x D-handle strimmers
- 1 x hedge cutter
- 1 x backpack blower
- fuel
- visor
- disposable gloves
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide timescales for when areas will be cut. This will depend on the resources we have available and how much support we need to provide to other services. This could mean that grass maintenance may be delayed or stood down for short periods.
Should this happen, you may notice that some areas are still being cut; this may be due to volunteers carrying out work in your area.
Yes. We have returned to normal schedule for emptying litter bins, however this may change if resources are required to assist critical services.
Yes. All incidents of flytipping are logged, prioritised and uplifted in accordance with available resources.
We are working in close partnership with our Corporate Enforcement Unit which is continuing to patrol throughout East Ayrshire, monitoring known hotspots, dealing with reported incidents, tracing those who have been fly-tipping where possible, and taking appropriate enforcement action.
We would ask that you continue to report fly-tipping so that we can review and schedule this service as soon as we are able to do so. Please email EACEnvCrime@east-ayrshire.gov.uk
If you have any questions that have not been covered above, please contact Outdoor.Amenities@east-ayrshire.gov.uk and a member of the team will get back to you.
Services resumed
Garden maintenance scheme
Our garden maintenance scheme has resumed for tenants that are currently accepted on the scheme. We are unable to process new applications. For all enquiries please call our contractor Tivoli on 01563 548050.
Services reduced or suspended
Public parks and open spaces
These are still open and the public are encouraged to use them in accordance with the social distancing guidance from the government.
Trees
If you have any issues relating to trees, please contact Outdoor Services by emailing outdoor.amenities@east-ayrshire.gov.uk and a member of the Team will be in touch.