Trim those Hedges & Trees
ROD WEBB
East Sussex County Council is reminding people that most roadside vegetation is the responsibility of the landowner. It needs regular pruning to keep it within property boundaries, pointing out that overgrown trees and hedges can be dangerous for both road users and pedestrians.
A member of the team at work
As if expecting a negative response from landowners, the Community Team of West St Leonards went into action the following Sunday and are calling for more volunteers to take part in ‘guerilla gardening’.
Bryan Fisher, speaking on behalf of the group says: “We called for volunteers to clear away mostly brambles and create a safe pavement along Bexhill Road for wheelchairs and buggies. There were 11 kind souls there, and we spent two hard hours clearing the pavement around the bus stop and further along.” He added that as well as lots of litter they also found two large suspension struts.
An East Sussex Highways spokesperson says: “It’s great to see residents taking pride in their community, but there are risks associated with carrying out work next to a road and we would always encourage people to report issues directly to us so we can carry out any necessary work safely.”
To clarify regulations, all vegetation should be a minimum of 50cm from the edge of the road, and pavements should be kept completely clear. To avoid disturbing nesting birds, September to February is the best time to prune hedges and tree branches: “We would ask residents to make this part of their annual garden maintenance,” says Cllr Claire Dowling, lead member for transport and environment at East Sussex County Council.
More information on how the council manages highway vegetation is available here: eastsussexhighways.com/services/services-vegetation
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