Grass Cutting by the Council

[Umpire]

Ouside our house we have a green about 20m x 15m.Today the the council men have been and cut it for only the third time this year.It normally takes about 15 minutes to cut using one of those stand on cutters.The grass must have been at least 9" long and he struggled to cut it but eventually did it after about 30 minutes.
About 10 minutes later another chap appeared on a sit on mower and took another 10 minutes to go over it again.Talk about false economy.
I know there are cut backs but what a mess the grassy areas are.Yesterday I went on Loundsley Green Road  and they have cut about 10 metres back from the road and just left the rest -it looks dreadful .The chap doing the grass cutting says that they have been told it is because there is a shortage of bees and that is why they are not cutting it.????????????????????????

[Big Dave]

I was watching a TV programme earlier this evening where viewers were encouraged to leave a bit of their lawn unmown to encourage wild flowers for bees. It seems like a good idea and I'm pleased the council has taken note.

What annoys me are all the weeds along pavements, they make roads look very neglected - Canal Wharf is very scruffy on the way to the Chamber of Trade.

[simondjuk]

Im all for looking after the wildlife but some parts left uncut are dangerous.

Last year I contact Bolsover Council about grass and hedge at the junction of Woodhouse Lane and Buttermilk Lane, as drivers had to pull out into the road to see anything coming from the left hand side.  Same road the morning after and the hedge and grass had been cut back.  Very pleased with the speedy service.  However, its getting the same again now.

If anyone knows, whos responsibility is it to keep hedges cut back on roads?  Is it the farmer, highways, council?

[Big Dave]

From DCC website:

Grass cutting

Within the highway we are responsible for grass cutting, but usually delegate this work to the local district or borough council. They in turn will normally employ a contractor to carry it out.

We determine the frequency of cutting at each location. This varies from annually on minor rural roads to five times a year in urban pedestrian areas. Verges are cut one swathe width (approximately one metre) from the edge of the road or footway.

This grass cutting is undertaken for highway (road, pathways etc) safety reasons rather than for tidiness so not all verges are mowed.

District or borough councils may therefore carry out additional mowing within the highway for amenity purposes.

A few parish councils have taken over some of the grass cutting in their villages in order to provide a more frequent service.

For further information please contact:

The Director of Environmental Services
County Hall
Matlock
Derbyshire
DE4 3AG

[Stuart]

Fantastic, isn't it:

Within the highway we are responsible for grass cutting...

Managers: 1. Grass cutters: 0.

...but usually delegate this work to the local district or borough council.

Managers 2, Grass cutters 0.

They in turn will normally employ a contractor to carry it out.

Final score:
Managers 3, Grass cutters 1

[balb0wa]

who is responsible for cutting hedges? the landowner?

The hedge past the church on Churchside, Hasland is massive and growing out, its tricky not to go on the road which is very busy.

Can anyone pull a few strings??  or cut a few twigs 

[Old Cruser]

I suppose it depends on who owns the land as to who cuts the hedges, I do know someone who used to work for the council and part of their job was hedge cutting as well as mowing.
My gripe is when the grass in front of daughters bungalow is cut not box is used so the grass then is blown a over her path and is paddled into the hallway.
Daughter can't brush it up.
Hubby cuts the back and all cuttings go into the green bin

[Slacker]

DCC Highways will only pay enough money to district / borough councils to keep highways grass safe, the latter are under public pressure to make it look neat and tidy and have to decide to cut it at the same time as their grass (eg housing areas) or cut it on a reduced cycle with different machinery.

I'm stuck in the middle!

[balb0wa]

well about 3 days after i moaned about the hedge above, it was cut last week, hmmm.... 

[Old Cruser]

well about 3 days after i moaned about the hedge above, it was cut last week, hmmm.... 

Spies balb0wa? Spies? 

Yesterday was spent mainly at daughters painting her decking and I shampooed her carpets.
The carpet in the outside porch way was also shampooed and hubby swept the entrance and washed down the door before I replaced the mat.

Today the grass has been cut - and there is grass everywhere

Can't win