Information on Loughborough

Blitz launched on overgrown shrubs

Posted on 18/07/2007
P. Klein

grass cuttingA bid to boost road safety by cutting back overgrown shrubs has been launched across the county.

Due to the recent wet weather, Leicestershire County Council has launched two teams to cut back foliage that is obscuring road signs and making verges look unsightly.

Last week, council leader David Parsons announced a £100,000 investment in verge maintenance, to combat the effects of the wettest June on record and Charnwood Borough Councils withdrawal of funding for flower bed maintenance.

Work has started on the countys main trunk routes and next week, the Councils ruling Cabinet will be asked to formally authorise the £100,000 investment.

In Loughborough and the rest of Charnwood, the Council is:

  • Weeding all remaining rose beds on verges
  • Talking to the contractor managing sponsored roundabouts, to agree planting schemes
  • Commissioning landscape designers to develop proposals for new planting on areas where rose beds have been removed.

Nicholas Rushton, the Cabinets highways spokesman, said: "As I promised, we are now tackling the overgrown vegetation on our highway verges across the County and improving the overall appearance of highway verges and roundabouts in Loughborough.