Consultation launched on a standard approach to grass cutting in parks
Residents are being asked for views on possible changes to grounds maintenance at Callendar Park and Zetland Park, which would bring them in line with how other Council parks are managed.
Under the proposed arrangements, the grass at Calendar and Zetland Park would be cut around once every three weeks – instead of every week.
Other major local parks, such as Dollar Park, Kinneil Estate, Douglas Park, Herbertshire Castle Park and Gray Buchanan Park, are already maintained successfully on this schedule.
The change would save about £83,000 a year. No jobs would be lost, and the change would allow grounds staff to all work from the Council’s central depot creating better resilience for the wider Falkirk area.
Callendar and Zetland would remain open access, with the same opening hours and facilities.
Relocating the Zetland Park team would mean the Council was no longer able to maintain the bowling green free of charge for Zetland Bowling Club.
Maintenance at the Council’s other bowling greens is currently arranged by the clubs, and this proposal would mean Zetland Bowling Club works in the same way.
Malcolm Bennie, Falkirk Council's Director of Place, said:
The Council currently successfully maintains dozens of parks across the Falkirk area using a once every three week grass cutting regime.
“The change being considered would see Callendar Park and Zetland Park brought into line with that. Such a move would allow us to centralise our grounds team in one depot which would mean we could better cover absence and disruptions in the grounds team across the entire Falkirk Council area.
“The change protects all existing employees, and both parks would remain open access with the same facilities and opening hours.
“The consultation allows us to ask people from across Falkirk Council how they would be affected by such a change – particularly park users, local groups and businesses. Once we have the feedback it will be presented to Councillors and they will consider whether to implement it or not as part of the Budget setting for 2026/27 in March 2026.
The Council will be seeking views from both park users as well as local groups and businesses, including Friends of Zetland Park, the Grangemouth Children’s Day committee, Falkirk Junior Bike Club, Cycling Without Age, Scottish Athletics, parkrun and event operators.