Residents in Fermanagh are "taking it upon themselves" to cut overgrown grass verges, a councillor has claimed.

At last Thursday's meeting of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Mark Ovens said he had seen local people "on the side of the road with strimmers" and with "mowers on the back of tractors" in an effort to keep overgrown verges under control.

Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd had previously informed the Council that grass cutting had commenced on 3rd June of this year and would be "completed on a priority basis with additional cutting provided where necessary at junctions and other areas to maintain visibility."

However, councillors expressed their dissatisfaction with recent grass cutting, with Sinn Féin's Declan McArdle describing it as a "total disgrace."

Councillor Ovens said that he had personally seen local people cutting grass verges themselves.

"You only have to drive around back roads to see the state that they are in," Councillor Ovens said. "I'd like to pay tribute to the landowners and the farmers out there who are taking it upon themselves, with a mower on the back of a tractor, to do this themselves.

"I drive past people on the side of the road with strimmers. It's good for them, it's good for the county, but ultimately, it shouldn't be falling to the local farmers or householders to perform this core, basic function."

SDLP Councillor Adam Gannon proposed that the Council write to the Department of Infrastructure (DfI) to ask if consideration was being given to cutting grass verges earlier in the season.

"The Minister says they are following policy, and I am sure they are, but to me, there needs to be consideration for a change of that policy," Councillor Gannon said.

"We have been talking about these verges and reduced sightlines for God knows how long.

"I propose we go back and write to the Minister and ask if any consideration is being given to changing the policy to allow grass cutting to be moved forward in the year, and to request if consideration is given to this as soon as possible, so it is in place for next year."

Sinn Féin councillor Sheamus Greene told the chamber that he had already brought this up at a meeting with DfI.

"I am delighted that Councillor Gannon is following my lead, that's great," Councillor Greene said.

"In the Erne East area, there has been no grass cutting yet, and indeed, in vast parts of rural areas, there has been none.

"I sent an email asking for an update, and they (DfI) said it should be all finished by the holidays. I am not sure if that was the Christmas holiday or not; I presume they meant by the Twelfth of July!"

In relation to a proposal to have grass verges cut a month earlier, Councillor Greene proposed that a "pilot case" be undertaken in Erne West, where the viability of such a move could be tested.

This was seconded by Councillor McArdle, who stated: "I have lost count of how many times I have been on to DfI about this.

"In villages, it looks desperate; even for a tourist attraction going through a village, it's bad looking.

"When the Council were doing it, it was done sufficiently and quickly, and they have to be commended. Now that it's gone to DfI, it's a total disgrace and looks absurd."

Sinn Féin Councillor Thomas O'Reilly referenced a scheme in Omagh where an engineering firm had partnered with schools to clean up roundabouts in the town.

"This was a good way of involving the community in those very troublesome urban roundabouts," Councillor O'Reilly said.

"Maybe that's something that could spread to Fermanagh? Maybe some companies might be equally inclined to run such a programme?"