Ransomes remotely operated Spider mowers, supplied by John Osman Groundcare of Oswestry, have been delivered to Conwy County Borough Council to help maintain the steep banks along the promenades of the local seaside towns.


Operator training on Rhos promenade

Peter Barton-Price is the Open Spaces Area Manager said, "For decades we have been maintaining these steep banks with either walk-behind mowers or with a team of operators using brushcutters.

"If anyone has ever experienced doing this type of work, they will appreciate just how uncomfortable it is. You are standing at an unnatural angle, putting pressure on your knees and ankles due to the severity of the slope and on your back through the sweeping movement of the strimming action. There is also a further risk of slipping on damp or uneven ground.

"As a responsible employer the Council is committed to the health and well-being of its employees and the purchase of these specialist mowers further demonstrates this commitment."


Open Spaces Area Manager Peter Barton-Price getting to grips with the Spider

Lyn Davies, Head of Open Spaces added, "Peter and his team undertook a detailed comparative study of all the specialist mowers in this sector and organised a series of trials to evaluate them. The Ransomes Spider ticked all the boxes; not only did it exceed our requirements, but there was a commitment from Ransomes and their local dealer to provide dedicated training for each member of the team. This dovetailed with our policy of having LANTRA qualified and BAGMA trained operators, so it all worked extremely well."