Councillors have received a surging number of complaints about the unkempt state of the county's roadside verges, with grass at some spots more than a metre high.

Motorists claim the vegetation at many locations is so dense that it is creating dangers because it reduces visibility at junctions.

Eastern Daily Press: The height of grass on verges in Norfolk has prompted criticismThe height of grass on verges in Norfolk has prompted criticism (Image: Aaron McMillan)

They have criticised Norfolk County Council's wildlife-friendly policy for letting vegetation get out of control in some areas.

The Tory-controlled authority has reduced the amount of grasscutting it does on roadside verges, in order to boost biodiversity as well as to cut costs.

It blames the 'unusual' weather this summer for some areas becoming overgrown more rapidly than usual but has resisted calls to change its approach.

The issue was raised at a recent council meeting, where members said they had seen an increase in complaints this summer.

Dan Roper, Liberal Democrat councillor for Hevingham and Spixworth, said: "Members have recently been receiving complaints concerning the frequency of overgrown verges.

"As much as we support pollinators, has this council stretched things too far to achieve savings?"

Eastern Daily Press: Liberal Democrat county councillor Dan RoperLiberal Democrat county councillor Dan Roper (Image: Dan Roper)

It comes after locals in Costessey expressed safety concerns about the long grass on the roundabout at Longwater roundabout.

Eastern Daily Press: Long grass on Longwater roundabout in CostesseyLong grass on Longwater roundabout in Costessey (Image: Denise Bradley, Newsquest)

While district councillors in Breckland are also unhappy at the length of grass on verges in places such as Dereham.

Eastern Daily Press: Councillors in Dereham raised concerns about the state of grass vergesCouncillors in Dereham raised concerns about the state of grass verges (Image: Aaron McMillan)

Norfolk County Council have been reducing the number of cuts since 2015.

In urban areas, they have gone from five a year to four, while rural cuts on C and unclassified roads have gone down to one cut.

It remains at two cuts on A and B roads, but roadside nature reserves - verges protected for their special wildlife interest - are cut separately from the usual programme.

When the council reduced the cuts, it said it was to protect habitats - but also to save thousands of pounds.

Eastern Daily Press: The state of verges in Norfolk has been criticisedThe state of verges in Norfolk has been criticised (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

Responding to recent concerns, Graham Plant, County Hall's cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said: "There is a fine balance between ensuring highway safety and supporting the environment.

"In addition, each year the growing season is subtly different. The weather this year caused significant early growth of the roadside verges and we are aware this led to a number of complaints.

"However, to ensure highway safety the rural grass cut started in mid-May and is now largely complete.

"The timing of the next cut will be dependent on weather conditions and growing condition, but this usually will start in August.

"This strategy balances highway safety with promoting biodiversity along our environmentally important highway corridors."

Eastern Daily Press: Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transportGraham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport (Image: Jamie Honeywood Archant Norwich Norfolk)

However, Mr Plant also faced criticism that the councils had cut verges during No Mow May - a national initiative aimed at encouraging no grass cutting to boost flowers, pollinators and insects.

Mr Plant said: "The council did not participate in No Mow May as the timing for grass cuts to the highway verges varies each year.

"This timing is dependent on growing conditions and ensures that highway safety is maintained."

He said the council could not wait until after May to carry out the cut, due to the weather triggering earlier-than-usual growth.

Eastern Daily Press: One of Norfolk's roadside nature reservesOne of Norfolk's roadside nature reserves (Image: Norfolk County Council)

 

MORE 'VERGE RESERVES' ON THE WAY

Mr Plant added that the council has pledged to increase the number of roadside nature reserves across the county to 300 sites, to help pollinators such as bees.

Council leaders want to add 188 new roadside nature reserves, to the 112 which already exist, providing more habitats for wildlife and insects.

The existing reserves were launched in 1995 by Norfolk County Council, in association with Norfolk Wildlife Trust.

The council said it had only had three complaints directly to County Hall about grass verges, down on seven last year, but said they were aware councillors had received more.

ANALYSIS

It may sound a mundane issue - how often grass verges should be cut.

But, here in Norfolk, it is a topic which has been stirring up surprisingly strong feelings.

Recent years have seen Norfolk County Council move away from regular cutting of roadside verges - and not everybody is happy about that.

Back in 2015, the council started to reduce how often those cuts were carried out.

Officers said it would help wildlife, including pollinators such as bees, but would also save County Hall thousands of pounds.

These days, in urban areas, cuts have gone down from five a year to four, while rural cuts on C and unclassified roads have gone down to one cut.

It remains at two cuts on A and B roads, while roadside nature reserves - verges protected for their special wildlife interest - are cut separately from the usual programme.

However, the council has come under fire from various angles over its approach to verge cutting.

Some people complain that the policy of fewer cuts means streets in urban areas, such as Norwich and Dereham, look untidy - that their neighbourhoods are dragged down by overgrown verges.

And in more rural areas, there are concerns that if grasses grow too high, it can obscure the views of drivers pulling out from junctions.

Others have criticised the council for cutting verges during No Mow May - a national initiative aiming to protect habitats from being cut at a time when spring wild plants, so crucial for pollinators like bees and butterflies, seed.

Norfolk County Council said it had to cut during May because unusual weather this year meant verges grew much more rapidly than normal.

As the county council acknowledges, there is a balance to be struck here, between safety and the need to boost biodiversity.

The authority is clear that it will not cut verges for appearance purposes, but that it will mow if growth is dangerous, such as at road junctions.

The old adage that you can't please all of the people all of the time seems a particularly pertinent one in this instance.

But it is vital that the council does take action where high grass could hinder the vision of drivers. We do not need more crashes on the county's roads.