A more extensive article will be published in WTC’s next newsletter, but in response to a number of recent observations:
- Roadside verges are the responsibility of Essex County Council. This includes grass cutting and trimming of hedges and trees which would otherwise impede safety for road users. Essex Highways are responsible for drains. In a majority of cases, Essex sub-contract cutting of verges to Colchester City Council, however, the budget does not cover half of this job, and has not increased for a decade. As a result, Colchester have struggled to cover the entire borough in a timely fashion.
- Colchester does not have a No-Mow policy other than in designated Nature Recovery areas.
- Budget constraints have resulted in less frequent “regular” cutting across Colchester district; not just Wivenhoe.
- The wet spring and early summer have produced overgrowth of lush green vegetation. This has caused inconvenience, some safety issues and can otherwise be unsightly. But it is less of a fire risk.
- Given limited influence and responsibilities for the above, WTC will necessarily prioritise public safety where it has responsibility.
- WTC have been running a Wilding Project in conjunction with CCC and the local Wivenhoe Bio-diversity group. There are a selected few verges and green spaces with signs on them which a part of Colchester City Council’s Woodland and Biodiversity project for Nature Recovery. These all have signage.
The verges project will be reviewed this year, and a survey will be done to assess public attitudes, in addition to the biodiversity survey.
Some will have been very successful in their biodiversity results but less so in gaining local support.
Cllr Glyn Evans: “The project seeks to balance the urgent need to reverse the decline in biodiversity against the public tolerance to change. Each aspect of the project will require a majority of support from the public. We will continue with regular articles about why urban nature recovery is an important part of addressing the climate and biodiversity emergency. Our thanks go particularly to those who are supportive without necessarily being comfortable with these changes”.
