Verge Cutting – July 2016

Verge cutting back on the agenda – 8 July

Councillors in Norfolk have backed a proposal to carry out a comprehensive cut of all rural grass verges in the county from next week.

Members of Norfolk County Council’s Environment, Development and Transport (EDT) Committee today (Friday) voted in favour of a proposal from its chairman, Cllr Martin Wilby, to undertake a full cut of rural grass verges on bends, straight sections of roads and at road junctions rather than just trim verges at road bends and junctions. The work will take place during the scheduled second annual grass cutting in July and August.

Mr Wilby said: “Given the wet summer we’ve been having, and the effect this has had on our verges which are growing at a rate of knots, I know there are some people who are genuinely very concerned about the visibility on our rural roads.

“We need to ensure we’re striking the right balance between road safety and looking after our wildlife. The safety of all road users in Norfolk is extremely important.

“I have listened to people’s concerns, and I believe cutting the verges now is the right thing to do to improve visibility on our rural roads, and try to help make them safer for all road users. And, at this time of the year, the wild flowers have flowered and seeded, and the birds will no longer be nesting by the roadside.”

Members of the committee also requested officers bring a report to an autumn meeting of the EDT committee – before the start of the new grass cutting season next year – so members could evaluate and consider the county’s current rural grass cutting policy.

At a previous EDT meeting, councillors approved proposals to reduce the frequency of rural verge cutting on straight roads to every other year.

For political comment:
Cllr Martin Wilby (Conservative) Chairman of the Environment, Development and Transport Committee, on 07920 286618 or 01379 741504
Cllr Jonathon Childs (UKIP) Vice Chair of the Environment, Development and Transport Committee, on 07899 037719 – text only
Cllr Terry Jermy (Labour) on 07742 157967
Cllr John Timewell (Liberal Democrat), on 07717 881857
Cllr Andrew Boswell (Green) on 07787 127881

For further information please contact:
Media Team at Norfolk County Council
Tel: 01603 228888
Email: pressoffice@norfolk.gov.uk