00642 Verges Booklet - Devon County Council

Within urban areas there may be a wildlife or amenity justification for
reducing the frequency of cutting or for avoiding certain sensitive
periods.
Partnership arrangements for commissioning the highway and amenity
work are encouraged where appropriate.
The grass cutting policy on housing estate roads adopted by the
County Council shall be as above. However, behind footways the
verges will be regarded generally as the responsibility of the City,
Borough or District Council.
(ii) Roads within Rural Areas
Cutting on visibility areas (junctions, lay-bys
and the inside of bends) is undertaken on an
as needs basis, a frequency of two or three
times per annum on maintenance category
3 to 8 roads, and once on category 9 and 10
roads has proved adequate.
Verges on roads with a maintenance category of 3 to 8 inclusive are
cut to a width of one metre from the road side channel twice per year
with an intermediate cut only if shown to be absolutely necessary.
Cutting on rural verges with a maintenance category of 9 or 10 is
completed once per annum and a second cut will only be undertaken:
(a) in a prolific growing season, or
(b) at a location with particularly vigorous
growth, or
(c) where only one cut would create a
road safety hazard.
A full width cut (the autumn cut on maintenance category 3 to 8) is
undertaken every third year to control the excessive growth of
brushwood, scrub and harmful weeds.
Cutting is undertaken to a residual height of 100mm.
The timing of the cuts is to be at the discretion of the Area Highway
Management Office or Agent Authority as appropriate but should take