A Stockport landscape company has stepped up to the mark to help Stockport Council cut grass verges in the Borough following an unusual growth spurt caused by the recent warm, wet weather lead to the Councils maintenance teams falling behind.
Millar Landscapes (in action left) volunteered the services of one of its three man grounds maintenance teams for a day to help the Council compete with this unusual grass growing scenario and are hoping to cut grass verges at the side of over two miles of roads in the Cheadle Hulme area.
Director Tony Millar (51) said,
“We anticipate that this will represent around 8,000 square metres of grass which is greater than the size of a World Cup football pitch.
“It started with a Tweet (it sounds a bit like a song!):
@CllrIainRoberts I would like to offer #FOC one of our grounds maint teams for a day to help @StockportMBC cut grass verges in #Stockport.
Councillor Roberts (Deputy Council Leader) replied a short time later and soon things started to get put in place to enable us to undertake the work.”
Millar Landscapes are commercial landscape contractors and specialise in a range of grounds maintenance and construction activities.
Tony Millar said
“We have been involved in a wide range of projects which support the community and this just seemed to be another great way to help.
“We are due to launch new software which links those interested in sponsoring and/ or maintaining public open spaces (POS) with sites that are available within an area or Local Authority. It has the potential to revolutionise the way some POS are maintained. Though it is a little early to comment on the specifics, I realised for some time that Councils throughout the country will have to manage things differently and innovation will be the key. After several years of development we may now have a way to help, whilst opening up a range of new opportunities for the company”.
In 2013 Tony Millar was selected for a place on the prestigious Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business (10KSB) programme which is for business leaders from companies with high growth potential. Tony was one of just twenty-nine on a Cohort representing the Region and at that time, he was one of less than 300 people in the country that had been selected for the course which in the Northwest is delivered by Manchester Metropolitan University. “One of the Modules on the course looked at corporate social responsibility. Though we have always done work in the community, working with schools and groups including Youth Offenders, the 10KSB programme helped me to decide that we should step up what we were doing”. He went on to say “keeping Stockport looking at its best is essential to attracting inward investment and as a Stockport resident it works for me personally too. In addition to being a member of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce Local Chamber Council, I am also a member of several business groups in the Borough. Everyone working together to make Stockport an even better place is essential to keeping the area as one of the happiest and most prosperous in the country”.
Work commenced on Monday 16th June.
Tony Millar can be contacted directly on 07768-61-6655 office 0161-483-6776 tony@M-LS.co.uk