WE WOULD like to thank Brighton and Hove City Council for deciding to leave the grass verges uncut wherever possible (Letters, May 25).

As you can see, this grass bank in Copse Hill in Westdene has come alive with wild flowers. We’ve counted 14 species already starting to flourish alongside many varieties of grass, all providing an insect habitat.

If no mowing takes place over summer, even more attractive flowers will come through.

Perhaps the council could seed these banks and verges with wild flower mixes to enhance the local environment and the city’s green credentials.

Maggie and Charlie Sutton, Copse Hill, Westdene

And now the opposing view...

ACCORDING to Councillor Pete West (Letters, May 25), Brighton and Hove City Council is now so hard up it can no longer afford to cut grass verges. He is grateful to residents for doing the job themselves.

This really is one of the most basic services provided to residents.

I see relatives in the area regularly and have noticed how shabby verges in Brighton and Hove have become. Aside from unkempt verges, there are weeds at least a foot high on some pavements.

Coun West says, “Increasing funding for verge mowing is not something included in our recent budget.” All residents want is for the standards set over previous generations to be maintained, and not see the place turned into a nature reserve.

Of course, when verges and pavements were maintained, there were no managers and executives on six-figure salaries.

Steve Gladwell, Fareham, Hampshire