Streets in parts of Norwich have not had their grass verges cut at all this year, it has been claimed.
Norfolk County Council has been accused of neglecting some city streets - but leaders say they have asked their contractors to tackle missed areas.
The Conservative-led council scaled back cuts in recent years to save money and encourage biodiversity, but confirmed in the summer that unusual weather had triggered higher-than-normal grass growth.
County councillor Maxine Webb said verges in Motum Road have gone uncut (Image: Maxine Webb)
But, at a meeting of County Hall's cabinet, Maxine Webb, Labour county councillor for Norwich's Wensum division, said some verges in her ward had not been cut at all.
She said: "Verges that have gone uncut all year in my division, despite my raising with officers, have now become cluttered with strewn and buried litter, making cutting difficult.
"Officers tell me that the verges now cannot be cut until the litter has been cleared.
"Since the Conservatives took back control of Norwich City highways, the previous coordination of litter clearing and verge cutting by the city council can’t easily happen."
Verges in Motum Road in Norwich (Image: Maxine Webb)
Ms Webb said Motum Road was one of the streets where the verges had gone uncut and said: "Some people have taken it into their own hands and have cut the verges themselves, but others have gone untouched.
"People who live there feel the council just isn't bothered about them."
Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport (Image: Archant)
READ MORE: Crash concerns raised over reduced cuts to Norfolk verges
Graham Plant, the county council's cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said the fourth and final urban grass cut of the year started last month.
He said: "I am sorry to hear of the amount of litter within grass verges in the city, but it is worth highlighting that litter picking is the responsibility of the city council.
"The local highways team has been working with our contractor to ensure grass
verges within the agreed highway boundary area are cut.
"Where locations have been missed, and they are within the county council's areas of responsibility, they have been highlighted to the contractor to remedy."
Verges in Norwich's Motum Road (Image: Maxine Webb)
He said discussions were taking place to better co-ordinate litter picking and
grass-cutting.
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