Anger at overgrown grass verges blocking road signs

Multiple road signs across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are being obscured by greenery and some residents have been less than impressed. 

Poole resident Bob Lister hit out at BCP Council, saying it “is not No Mow May, it’s not rewilding – it's a sign of neglect”. 

This year’s budget includes a review of the grounds maintenance service, which the council said would save £450,000 each year.  

Mill Lane in Whitecliff, Poole (Image: Bob Lister)

Poole resident Bob Lister (Image: Daily Echo)

This includes reducing the number of times grass is cut, with a “large proportion” of the area going unmown. 

Mr Lister added: “The council is doing less and less: the grass is not being mown in verges everywhere, the road signs are being blocked off and they are not replacing the hanging baskets. It’s disgraceful.” 

Opposition leader Phil Broadhead said it’s “simply not good enough to let our area slip in the way it has recently” and grass cutting and clearing verges is “so important to give pride to our towns”. 

“Although to be fair if we’re all driving at 10mph it will make it easier to read the street signs through the weeds,” he added. 

(Image: Daily Echo)

(Image: Daily Echo)

Conservative leader Cllr Broadhead told the Echo his party put extra funding into the Cleaner, Greener, Safer initiative, but said it has now been “binned by Vikki Slade’s Lib Dem run council in favour of their Let It Grow, rewilding campaign”. 

“Instead, they’re wasting money by spending untold amounts on extra planning committees (which have now seen meetings cancelled through lack of business) and their war on motorists.” 

A BCP Council spokeswoman said this time of year sees a “flush in growth” resulting in grass growing taller in between cuts. 

She said: “Every effort is made to complete the cutting rounds in the shortest possible time with the resources available to us."

The spokeswoman added: “Although the grounds maintenance budget at BCP Council has been reduced, the declared 2019 climate and ecological emergency remains a very important consideration. 

Conservative leader Phil Broadhead with ward councillor Karen Rampton (Image: Phil Broadhead)

“Part of our response to this has been to change the way some green spaces are managed across the BCP area. Some areas are mown regularly, and some are allowed to grow.  

“This helps us develop sustainable policies and procedures as we work to tackle climate change and improve conditions for wildlife. It also allows our teams to focus their efforts on cutting sites that need regular mowing, such as sports pitches and parks.” 

She advised those wishing to take grass cutting and shrub trimming on public land into their own hands should contact BCP Council first. 

“Even in times of financial challenge we continually review and adjust our operations to try and lessen the impact of these constraints on the service,” the spokeswoman added.