Grass verges and cutting
Cotswold District Council - Glyphosate Use and Future Considerations:
Cotswold District Council are committed to maintaining the cleanliness and safety of our public spaces by effectively managing weed growth across the district. As part of this effort, our partners and their contractors currently use glyphosate-based herbicides in some areas. This remains the most cost-effective and efficient method for controlling weeds.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) continues to regulate the use of glyphosate in the UK, and its latest assessments have concluded that, when used properly, glyphosate poses minimal risk to human health and the environment.
Cotswold District Council recognise the growing public concern over the use of glyphosate-based herbicides and the long-term impacts on biodiversity and soil health. In line with these concerns, we are exploring safer, more sustainable alternatives to glyphosate.
Our goal is to reduce its use and phase it out completely where feasible, introducing environmentally responsible methods that align with both public health priorities and our commitment to maintaining a healthy local ecosystem.
To achieve this Cotswold District Council will continue to actively seek engagement from our partners and industry experts as well as the wider community to ensure any changes we make are well-informed, economically viable, and aligned with best practices for environmental stewardship.
We cut the grass so that people can use roads and pavements safely. Although environmental issues are an important concern, grass cutting is done for highway safety reasons rather than environmental purposes.
We do not cut the grass that is:
- privately owned
- on properties or estates owned by bodies other than us
You can download a list of verges and other areas that we are responsible for cutting.
List of grass areas cut by Cotswold District Council - xls - 32 Kb
These areas are cut on a 14 day timetable, but if it's too wet we may have problems getting onto the area. We have to wait until the grass is dry.
If the area is not on the list, it is likely to be the responsibility of either Highways at Gloucestershire County Council or the local parish or town council.