‘Usual culprits’ blamed for hedge trimmings in roads

Legislation defines hedges to include all kinds of growth overhanging a public road up to a height of eight or twelve feet.

Landowners whose premises border public roads are legally required to immediately remove all materials cut from roadways and pavements.

Cuttings can be disposed of appropriately at the Chouet green waste site.

St Martin’s constable John Bamford said there had been a lot of complaints.

‘We have had quite a lot of phone calls reporting cuttings left in the road,’ he said.

‘We did the normal hedge inspections and there is nothing major. Most of the cuttings left on roads have been from contractors.’

Contractors reportedly often quote to clear the hedges but do not include a charge to dispose of leftover trimmings.

‘Homeowners don’t always realise that it is their responsibility and not the contractors, but we are trying to get this changed. It would be sensible for contractors to include this in their service, as they have all the equipment and kit to do it. We use States Works and they are remarkably good.’

St Saviour’s constables reportedly had no cuttings left in the main roads other than the same culprits who come around yearly.

St Peter Port secretary to the constables Ann Jennings said: ‘We haven’t had anybody calling in to report hedge cuttings left specifically, nor have we had any more than usual. Normally it is the same people. Often people call contractors in to clear their hedges but forget it’s their own responsibility to clear it away.’

A St Peter’s constables’ spokesperson said: ‘It’s the same issue every year, with contractors trimming all the field edges and leaving them by the roadside.’