What is the garden maintenance scheme? The garden maintenance scheme is a grass cutting and hedge cutting service for elderly and disabled members of the community who have no one to help with the garden. We provide the service over the summer months. How do I join the scheme? Your local area office has application forms (see over the page for addresses and phone numbers). To join the scheme you must: be a pensioner (aged 60 or over) or disabled; and have no other adult at home who can help with the garden. Once you have filled in your form send it to your local area office. We will write to you shortly afterwards to tell you if you can join the scheme.
The charge depends on when you pay for the service. If you make payment in early April, the cost for 7 visits is £154.45 If you apply late, there is a sliding scale, depending on when you join the scheme. The following costs include VAT.
What happens if I have missed the start of the scheme? We will pass your name and address to the gardener who will usually put your name on the list for the next round of visits. In some areas, if you apply late, the gardener may not be able to fit you in.
April (late) May June July August September
£132.39 £110.32 £88.25 £66.20 £44.13 £22.07
6 visits 5 visits 4 visits 3 visits 2 visits 1 visit
If you have missed the start of the scheme your grass may be that bit longer when it gets its first cut. It is difficult to get a perfect cut when the grass is longer, but if you have problems after the second cut, please feel free to contact us. See the Who to contact section on the back of this leaflet.
What work will be done in my garden? The gardener will cut the grass with a petrol lawnmower and tidy the edges of the lawn with a petrol strimmer. The Gardener will not do any other work on the lawn or flower beds. How often will my garden be done? The gardeners have teams covering the whole of South Ayrshire. Each team has hundreds of gardens on its list. When you join the scheme your address is added to the list and the gardener does your garden when next in your street or local area. So, depending on when you join, you could wait up to three weeks for your first visit.
How much does the service cost? All council tenants who qualify for the scheme receive the service free. For anyone else, the charge is £154.45 including VAT.
The gardener will come and cut your grass every 3 - 4 weeks. The service starts at the beginning of April and runs until the end of September so you will get 7 visits. Twice a year the gardener will cut your hedge. This is usually done in May and August. The Gardener will only cut this year's growth but will collect all the clippings and take them away.
Who do I contact if I have a problem? If you have any problems with the gardener or any questions about the service please contact your local area office. The addresses and phone numbers are given below: Ayr Riverside House 21 River Terrace Ayr KA8 0AU Phone: (01292) 612000 Prestwick 2 – 6 The Cross Prestwick KA9 1AN Phone: (01292) 671666 Troon Municipal Buildings South Beach Troon KA10 6EJ Phone: (01292) 313555 Maybole 64 High Street Maybole KA19 7BZ Phone: (01655) 882124
Social Work, Housing and Health
HOUSING SERVICES
GARDEN MAINTENANCE SCHEME 2008
Girvan 19 Knockcushan Street Girvan KA26 9AQ Phone: (01465) 712299