Parks, gardens and open spaces - Garden Maintenance Scheme

The Garden Maintenance Scheme is a scheme provided by West Lothian Council to prevent gardens becoming overgrown. There is set rules for eligibility to benefit from the scheme:

Applicants and all members of the household must be either
1. Aged 16 - 65 and in receipt of disability living allowance, or
2. Aged 65 - 70 with the application form signed by a doctor, or
3. Aged 70 years or over, or
4. Registered blind.

You may have the right to appeal if your application is rejected.

If you are accepted onto the scheme, the service will provide the following:
Grass cut every 2 - 3 weeks, 11 times in total.
Small rough areas and edges will be strimmed 4 times per year and hedges cut once between October and December.

You may have to pay for this service if you are not in receipt of a means-tested benefit.

You will have to pay if your are a private householder and not in receipt of a means tested benefit ie Pension Credit, Income Support, Council Tax Benefit (Excluding Single Person Discount) etc.

The fees for 2008 are based on Garden size and are branded into the following four categories:

Band A - £57.38, Band B - £86.05, Band C - £91.90, Band E - £114.75

Please note that the scheme does not cover:

1. Cutting of old vegetable plots or overgrown areas
2. Digging borders.
3. Weeding borders.

Should you wish to make an enquiry into the service or provide comments/suggestions, you can do so by telephone on 01506 775000, using the appropriate form at your local Council office or by writing to:

NETs and Land Services
Waverley Street Depot
Waverley Street
Bathgate
West Lothian
EH48 4HX