This is a real bug-bearer because not only can it be unsightly, it impacts on our everyday walks. It does though have far more consequences to people who are less mobile or have sight restrictions.
Growth of hedges and shrubs have increased dramatically in the past years, through wetter and warmer summers. This has certainly impacted on local authorities capacity to address previous maintenance regimes.
It must also be recognised though that a lot of overgrown hedges and shrubs are on private property, including local gardens. The council’s position tin how they address their own issues is very clear:
Hedges and shrubs
We cut all hedges and shrubs in the borough that are either next to roads, or in public open spaces, parks and cemeteries.
Hedges and shrubs are cut annually between November and March, but again depends on the weather. We also cut back verges on rural country lanes 3 times a year.
We’ll only cut back a hedge or shrub if it’s causing an obstruction of affecting the visibility of the road (this does not include hedge height).
To report an overgrown hedge or shrub please email us at connectcc@solihull.gov.uk.
Or phone – on 0121 704 8000.
Private hedges/shrubs:
Where overgrown hedges and shrubs are on private land, including gardens of residential property, local authorities will ask the land owner/householder to address the issue. As a last resort the local authority can take action and recover costs. This is though a last resort becasue this also incurs costs and officers time.
Feel free to copy Ken and/or Keith into any report or notify us and we will visit and inspect the problem ourselves and report the matter for you.
Photo: both Keith and Ken are not averse to pushing pushchairs and as we both live locally we do report lots of issues ourselves.
Ken Hawkins 