It was a sigh of relief for locals when the untidy and unwelcoming ‘Welcome to Estcourt Umtshezi Municipality’ sign in Lorne Street showed signs of a clean-up.

Two weeks ago a resident who said she was disgusted and embarrassed by the length of the grass and weeds had her concerns forwarded to the local municipality.

Since then this area is more pleasant as the grass cutting started last week.

Following an article published in the Estcourt News, prior to the clean-up, locals continued to express their embarrassment and disgust.

“Besides the unacceptable look of the entrance of the town, which sadly continues throughout the town, can one recall how newly wedded couples would queue up in Lorne Street to take wedding photographs?

Compare that, to what it looks like now and seems like we are moving backwards.

I doubt I want to know what it cost to erect the wall, which is now being neglected, I’m afraid I may get a heart attack,” said one resident.