I have recently received a number of
complaints about the overhanging of vegetation on to pavements and footpaths,
having walked the footpaths the complaints are well founded. Such overhanging
vegetation usually emanates from someone's garden, be it a hedge or dense
vegetation it is garden owner's responsibility to cut it back. Please if your
hedge or other vegetation is overhanging a footpath or a pavement please cut it
back. In the meantime I am pressing to get our local street scene officer to
have a walk around these problem areas with the hope that some general tidying
up may be undertaken.
The reason hedges overhang is because people have lost sense of the public realm - 'who cares its not mine?'
Pavements are also increasingly encroached by people who rarely walk anywhere (whose early deaths due to heart disease will be a self-inflicted punishment) - parking across them being the worst case. This is illegal, dangerous and anti-social, costs money in repairs - and is as likely to be done by local people as well as visitors. Off-road parking on the verge as well - freely provided by the Council?
Selfish. Such people should be fined and the money used for local improvements.