People in Great Yarmouth frustrated with overgrown verges

Posts on social media about the lack of grass-cutting on pavements and communal spaces have led to a councillor saying the work "is simply not good enough".

Frustrations are growing over the unkempt pavements around Gorleston, Bradwell and Great Yarmouth.

Gorleston homeowner Philip Stone said the "post-apocalyptic" state of some of the verges creates a hostile environment in the community.

Weeds growing on Fuller's Hill, Great Yarmouth. (Image: James Weeds)"It hardly sets a welcoming tone," he said.

"I've seen war zones that looked better.

"It feels as if the council is saying 'we don't care about your community'. So why should anyone else care?

"The bigger issue though is the amount of weeds around. I can't see why it's not been done and frankly, people are fed up with it."

People living on Roslyn Road have took to cutting the grass verge themselves. (Image: James Weeds)In an effort to tackle the problem, Mr Stone said he has recently encouraged his neighbours to cut the grass in front of their homes.

"But why are we paying taxes on maintenance for things like this, and then having to do it ourselves?" He said. 

Weeds sprouting from the roadside on Clarkes Road, Gorleston. (Image: James Weeds)"Perhaps the answer is for communities to band together, pay for a subcontractor to carry out verge maintenance and then send the council the bill.

"It's shameful."

Philip Stone. (Image: James Weeds)In Newtown, Mike Spragg said much of the area - especially around Caister Road, Barnard Bridge and Jellicoe Bridge - "is a total mess".

"I complained last year when the daffodils were destroyed on Caister Road. It was a welcoming sight for people entering the town," said Mr Spragg.

"The flowers never really grew back, and now the grass is waist-high in places.

"They seem to have withdrawn any attention to the area. It just looks a mess now.

"I just don't know where their priorities are."

Weeds spouting from the roadside on Barnard Bridge. (Image: James Weeds)Bradwell councillor Daniel Candon posted a statement on Facebook saying "work is underway to try and have this matter resolved" for people in his ward.

"The quality of the work (or lack of in some areas) is simply not good enough and I remain as frustrated as you," said Mr Candon in his post.

Bradwell North councillor, Daniel Candon. (Image: Submitted)WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CUTTING GRASS AND SPRAYING WEEDS?

A spokesman for Norfolk County Council said all urban grass cutting in the Great Yarmouth area is undertaken by Great Yarmouth Borough Council via a service level agreement.

"The way this works is that Norfolk County Council pay them for four urban cuts a year, which they may/may not supplement with additional cuts depending on their own Borough finances," the spokesman said. 

"We do not tell them when to cut. They manage the cutting schedule themselves.

"Norfolk County Council, in more rural areas of the Borough, do undertake a rural cut once a year and this may be supplemented with a further cut of visibility splays later in the summer."

Weeds growing on a kerb in Bradwell. (Image: Clare Martins)With regards to weed spraying, the spokesman added that a Norfolk County contractor undertakes weed spraying one spray a year, which is "likely to commence in the next few weeks".

However, the spokesman said, spraying is weather dependent.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council has been contacted for comment.