Grass verge cutting underway

MORE than 6,000km of grass verges throughout Carmarthenshire are getting their annual cut.

Carmarthenshire County Council has a statutory duty to maintain the highway in a safe condition for motorists and pedestrians.

The council generally carries out one cut a year; however, a second cut may be carried out in some areas in early September, depending on weather and growing conditions throughout the season.

Executive Board Member for Street Scene Cllr Colin Evans said: “The maintenance of road verges is an important service provided by the council. In the interests of safety, vegetation on verges is kept trimmed to avoid obscuring of signs and visibility splays.

“It is unavoidable, however, that on some stretches of minor roads, the growth of verge vegetation will occasionally reduce visibility, and so we would advise motorists to drive carefully.”

The importance of the road verge network for nature conservation must also be considered and is reflected in the council’s verge maintenance policy. The county’s roadside verges provide a rich and varied wildlife habitat offering shelter, a supply of food and corridors along which wildlife can travel.

Cllr Evans added: “The cutting of some verges may be delayed in the interests of conservation as long as highway safety is not jeopardised. Designated nature reserves where clearly identified and marked will not be cut.”

Drivers are being urged to take care while the works are carried out.