Weeds in road

MouldyOldDough

We live in an area that has many concrete slab roads and the council have decided to stop weeding them - to save money

They only weed A roads and totally ignore residential roads

There are weeds growing everywhere - from the kerbs and even in the middle of the roads

There are  3 feet thistles and  dandelions everywhere

Considering that I currently pay a percentage of my council tax to cover just this issue - I am not very happy

Anyone else in the same situation ?

onashoestring

You can use website fixmystreet.com to report this - upload photos and pinpoint the location on a map - it remains on the website until it is fixed . 

RichardD1970

Good for insect diversity. Our council has actively rewilded verges and some previously mowed areas with a mix of just flinging wild flower seeds to properly managed meadowed areas. Taken a couple of years to  come to full bloom and not just look like unkempt scrub but looks lovely now. Save the Bees! (Funded by the ERDF and saves on costs). 

born_again

Nope we get local council coming round and spraying the paths & kerbs to keep weeds down once a year. But 3' weeds. Can't be a well used roads.

Ectophile

If you drive over the weeds, it will squash them.

Bigphil1474

Plus you don't pay a % of your council tax to remove weeds from roads. They'll have a roads budget and I suspect most of it is spent fixing potholes. Would prefer weeds over potholes any day.

Herzlos

Ectophile said:

If you drive over the weeds, it will squash them.

That's what I was thinking; surely driving on the weeds would kill them off, so for them to be that big it'd imply that no-one drives on that section of road. It sounds like he's not actually talking about the roads though, but paved areas adjacent to the road?

oldagetraveller1

I can categorically state that I have never weed on or in the road!

Sapindus

Herzlos said:

That's what I was thinking; surely driving on the weeds would kill them off, so for them to be that big it'd imply that no-one drives on that section of road. It sounds like he's not actually talking about the roads though, but paved areas adjacent to the road?

OP said: "There are weeds growing everywhere - from the kerbs and even in the middle of the roads"

I don't know if concrete reacts differently to tarmac in that weeds growing in cracks in tarmac will slowly infiltrate and make the crack worse, leading to a pothole.  Concrete may be tougher?  But I imagine if a tree seedling gets hold in a place which doesn't regularly get driven on, that could start to be a problem.  All roads are going to have less-driven-on parts where this could apply.  Also possible issues with driver distraction, visibility.  

Lastonestanding

MouldyOldDough said:

We live in an area that has many concrete slab roads and the council have decided to stop weeding them - to save money

Although council's do sort out the roads, it's government money, so if the government don't provide sufficient money, speak to your MP.

They don't seem to prune trees growing in the verges very often, if at all.
The pavements being sprayed with weedkiller has been hit and mis this year.

Woolsery

Long term, the powers that be don't want you or me to be driving about independently at will, so big weeds in the less-used roads look like a good thing from their perspective and it will keep the insects happy too. Don't forget, they're due to become part of our staple diet eventually. Those cows and sheep you see around fart and poo a lot, so like the petrol, they're due to be replaced with greener alternatives.

Of course, private air travel for important people and real meat will still be there, at a price, but the rest of us will need to accept a few modest changes if we are to beat this climate crisis in the same way as we beat that awful flu thing. Besides,if you're powering along in your Range Rover Evoque a few weeds add a touch of spice to the journey, but do watch out for the butterflies!