Case Study
Grass and Weed Clearing in Sticklepath
Sticklepath Parish Council received funding from the Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund (HMCEF). The money contributed towards contractor costs for verge cutting and weed spraying throughout the parish.
Following the ‘Tough Choices’ public consultation in 2014, it was agreed by Cabinet that DCC would make reductions to our grass cutting service. We now only carry out grass-cutting on highway verges in areas that are key to maintaining visibility, such as at junctions, laybys, and the inside of bends. The treatment of weeds also ceased under this new policy.
As a result there are now more weeds in evidence and many areas of grass remain uncut, this has prompted the local council to take action.
More case studies - Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund (HMCEF)
Beaford Parish Council received a grant from the HMCEF for a project to patch an estate road, Shepherds Meadow, within their community. Read more >
Hennock Parish Council were awarded funding from the HMCEF towards the cost of employing a contractor to undertake lengthsman duties within the parish. Read more >
Luppitt Parish Council were awarded funding for laying a new drain within the parish, as well as funding towards a project to create a new concrete ditch. Read more >
Following their joint application to the Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund, the villages of Stoke Canon and Rewe have carried out footpath improvements. Read more >
Broadclyst Parish Council applied for funding with a proposal to convert an old BT hut in Dog Village and the surrounding ground into a storage compound for the parish council, including a safe space for road signs, materials, PPE used by the community road warden along with the dry storage of ancillary equipment (cone lights,… Read more >
Marwood Parish Council joined the highway self help scheme and uses its funds towards a parish handyman. Read more >
During 2018/19, a further 16 road warden agreements were signed. There are now 73 agreements in place across the County. Read more >
Ilfracombe Town Council employ a town maintenance operative, whose role includes keeping the town tidy and free from weeds, cutting grass verges, pruning trees, clearing drains and filling minor potholes. A group of volunteers also carry out minor works under supervision. Read more >
Northam Town Council have received funding through the HMCEF to clear the vegetation and carry out grass cutting across Northam. Read more >