A RESIDENT claims a town may need a herd of "hungry goats" if budget cuts go ahead.

Sevenoaks District Coucil is proposing to give Swanley Town Council only £7,000 to cut the town's grass verges this year.

It means the council will only have enough money to cut the grass five times in 12 months.

When the town council agreed to cut the grass on behalf of Sevenoaks in 2004 it was given a budget of £16,000 enough to mow 15 times a year.

Swanley Council clerk Brian Daley admits the grass may reach as high as 2ft if the budget reductions go ahead.

He also says the town council would be forced to spend up to £5,000 on a machine to cut grass of this length.

Neighbourhood Watch co- ordinator Ann Watkins, 62, of Garrolds Close, thinks it will ruin the area which backs on to her garden in Hilda May Avenue.

The grandmother-of-two said: "The land is used by children in the summer to kick balls about.

"It's a really beautiful area and we are proud of it.

"Five cuts a year would not be enough. The kids would not be able to kick balls in 2ft of grass."

She added: "We're going to have to get some hungry goats down there. That will soon sort it out.

"Sevenoaks does not realise the impact it will have. When an area gets run down people begin not to care about where they live. It will make things go downhill."

Mrs Watkins intends to write to Sevenoaks Council to complain and has the backing of town councillors Councillor David Coates and Councillor Anne Parker.

A Sevenoaks spokesman said: "The council has proposed to reduce the number of grass cuts at some district council-owned grounds by three or four times a year.

"At this stage, this is only a proposal. The council's budget for the coming year will not be finalised until February 21."