Who is responsible?
The County Council is responsible for controlling the growth of weeds within the public highway. The city or district councils are responsible for routine sweeping and cleansing of the public highway.
How is weed growth controlled?
Due to environmental and ecological restrictions, only non-residual weedkiller can be used to restrict weed growth within the highways. This prevents pollution being carried through the drainage systems into local watercourses and accidental spillage or drift onto adjacent gardens.
A specialist contractor is employed to spray the approved weedkiller to existing growth only as it will not affect germinating seeds. The weedkiller is applied two or three times through the growing season to try to keep weed growth to a minimum. Where significant weed growth remains, a manual clear up in the autumn may be carried out.
Residual weedkiller may still be used during the construction and repairs of footways and cycleways as weeds can grow through new construction causing severe damage.
What areas are treated?
All urban areas, villages and any lengths of kerb between rural developments are treated. All weeds growing within footways and cycleways, including around street furniture and between kerbing and edging shall be treated.
Reporting excessive weed growth or overgrown grass verge
If you want to report excessive weed growth or an overgrown grass verge, please use the online form.
For more information please see the Growing Pains leaflet (PDF 83KB).