Highways team's grass cutting season starts

Despite it still being February, the grass cutting season for 2017 gets underway now. West Sussex County Council operates two different rotas for grass cutting in West Sussex – urban and rural. Urban: In urban areas it makes seven cuts a year between March and November. These are done by teams using lawnmowers and strimmers. The only exceptions are locations where district and borough councils arrange cuts for the county council. Rural: In the countryside, or where there are no pavements, the county council make one overall cut per year. Highways teams maintain rural verges so pedestrians can avoid walking in the road. They make two one-metre wide cuts to stop grass and vegetation overhanging the road. Cuts in rural areas are carried out by teams using a tractor. Bob Lanzer, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “Grass cutting is a major part of our highways maintenance operation and even though it’s still winter, our teams will be out making verges neat and safe. “We cut the grass in urban areas an extra two times a year more than the national standard. “Normally it takes about four to six weeks to cut all grass across the county, so please rest assured if we are not in your area cutting grass next week, we will be soon.” West Sussex Highways does not collect grass cuttings as the cost involved would restrict the number of cuts they could carry out, and try to blow cuttings back on to the verge. Some will cover or fall into drains but this is unlikely to block them. Grass cutting in recreational areas such as parks and housing areas are carried out by district or borough councils, or housing authorities. Highways England looks after verges on the A27, M23 and A23. To get the latest news on where grass cutting teams are, follow @WSHighways on Twitter or view the schedule at www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/9260/urban_grass_schedule.pdf Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live. Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on. 1) Make our website your homepage 2) Like our Facebook page 3) Follow us on Twitter 4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here. And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out! Always the first with your local news. Be part of it.