Roadside grass cutting, weeds and overgrown hedges or trees

Roadside Grass Cutting

We have had a number of issues reported to us about verges and hedges that are overgrown and obstructing pavements and paths.

Cornwall Council are responsible for vegetation clearance on main highways and issues can easily be reported on this webpage 

However landowners are responsible for maintaining hedges next to public roads or footway.

If you own or occupy land next to a public road or footway, you are responsible for lopping any tree or cutting back any hedge growing on your land which:

• endangers or obstructs the movement of vehicles (including high-sided vehicles)
• endangers or obstructs the movement of pedestrians, especially pedestrians with a visual impairment
• obstructs the view of drivers of vehicles
• obstructs or interferes with the light from any street light

or

• obstructs the view of traffic signs or affects the safety or convenience of road users

Lopping or cutting back should be as needed to remove the obstruction or remedy the matter.

You should allow at least 5.5m vertical clearance for trees and hedges overhanging a road, and 2.4m over a footway.