We carry out regular safety inspections of our roads, and as part of the inspection process we aim to identify grass verges which have become overgrown and which may pose a hazard to highway users.
Verges are cut to:
- Maintain visibility for road users, especially on road junctions, visibility splays and crossroads
- Keep traffic signs clear
- Keep verges passable for pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists
How can I report an overgrown verge?
However, vegetation can grow rapidly, especially during favourable weather. If you encounter or observe a problem with an overgrown verge, the sooner we are made aware of it the better. You can report it by:
- Completing the on-line fault report attached to this page
- Contacting us by telephone, email or post
You can download our grass cutting leaflet by selecting the attachment on this page. The leaflet is also available at our Shirehall reception, our Highway Divisional offices, our Customer Service Centre and Customer First points.
Verges provide important habitats for a variety of species of insects and animals. As a consequence, we cut a limited width of most rural verges only once a year. By keeping the width of cutting to a minimum, the remaining verge area can provide an important habitat for wildflowers and wildlife
Ragwort
Ragwort can grow prolifically on highway verges. We undertake a regular annual programme to pull ragwort by hand, as this is the most effective way of removing the weed. You can find out more about common ragwort on the highway by following the link on this page.