In Sneyd Park, even when the ground is saturated and walking in the woods and Nature Area is not so easy; it is still pleasant to walk around the area on the pavements.
However, this is often difficult when hedges are allowed to grow over the pavement. It is now the very beginning of the growing season and the time when hedges can be cut back. If they are cut back now, by the summer they will be green again.
The owner or occupier of a property has a legal responsibility (Highway Act 1980 s154) to ensure that the public highway adjacent to a property is not obstructed by vegetation from their property. A person pushing a pram or wheelchair should be able to walk unobstructed along the pavement. When parked cars are added to the equation (sometimes parking with two wheels on the pavement) the situation becomes even more difficult.
Please do go and have a look at your hedge. Please encourage your neighbours to do the same. No one wants a situation to arise when an owner is reported to the Council, who have the powers (and duty) to see that the hedge is cut.
Please help keep Sneyd Park a pleasant and safe place to walk around.
IMPORTANT NOTE: when trimming back hedges, please be mindful of Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Section 1, for example, states that it is an offence intentionally:
- to kill, injure or take any wild bird
- to take, damage or destroy the nest of a golden eagle/white tailed eagle/osprey, or of any wild bird whilst it is in use/being built
- to obstruct or prevent any wild bird from using its nest
- to take or destroy an egg
- We draw this to your attention as a Member of SPRA has kindly pointed out the Act and felt residents should be aware when trimming hedges.
SPRA - Sneyd Park Residents Association 