Residents of a Keswick retirement complex have been let bemused when management got the lawnmowers out but omitted to grit paths – despite it being sub-zero temperatures.
Greta Gardens, for over-55s, is managed by Castles & Coasts Housing Association and offers ‘independent living with extra care provided’.
People living there were stunned yesterday as, despite their thermometers reading -5, a maintenance man turned up with a lawnmower and proceeded to try to cut the grass.
Gardening experts advise never to mow your lawn when there is a frost, as it can actually help protect the grass.
A resident, who asked not to be named, said: “It was just unbelievable. Many of the residents are well into their 70s and 80s and had never seen anything like it.”
They added that it came on top of a confusing time for the residents as Castle & Coasts had last week, when temperatures first plunged, not gritted the paths.
They said: “It was like a skating rink and instead, management put up a sign saying it was slippery outside. We gritted it ourselves and following emails from us, they gritted the paths.
“What makes it even worse is that when they came to mow the lawn, they didn’t grit the paths!”
A spokesman for the housing association, which looks after over 7,000 properties across the North, said: “Our teams regularly ‘top’ the grass around our developments throughout the winter, as a response to feedback from customers and also because it allows us to keep on top on growth and clear leaves that accumulate at the end of the year, and this was a scheduled visit.
“Greta Gardens has now been fully gritted. We’re sorry for the delay in getting to the scheme, and signs were originally put out as a precautionary measure until our teams could get there.
“With the recent extreme cold snap, we are trying to get to everyone as quickly as possible and thank everyone for their patience.”
