Councillor questions roadside cut reduction
Roads officials have defended the decision to ditch the midsummer pruning of roadside verges.
Orkney islands councillors previously agreed to reduce the former two cuts to just one, in September/ October, to save money and better look after the environment.
But the change, which was brought last summer, has faced some public backlash.
The latest flak came from Councillor Owen Tierney at Tuesday’s meeting of the council’s enterprise and infrastructure committee.
The previous criticism has centred on the perceived increased risk faced by motorists emerging from junctions when their sight lines are restricted by overgrown vegetation.
But Councillor Tierney said pedestrians are also being put in danger by the change in the cutting regime.
He said: “You have a lot of folk out walking their dogs on the narrow, nine-feet roads when the verges are long and you’re coming to a bend and can’t see a car coming the other way.
“It’s dangerous and the main thing that could be done to counter that is move the grass cut to June or July instead of September/October.
“That would be a fairly simple thing that would improve road safety quite a lot.”
Councillor Tierney said the move is backed by all the community councils in his West Mainland ward.
OIC neighbourhood services head Lorna Richardson said road safety is the priority in operating its road verge maintenance.
She said roads teams carry out safety cuts at a number of locations outwith the schedule.
She added: “Members of the public and elected members are welcome to report concerns to the roads team who will take a view as to whether additional cuts are required in that location.”
Councillor Tierney responded: “But the safety cuts are for motorists coming out of junctions.
“I’m talking about the safety of people walking along the road.
“Cutting the grass only once was a cost-saving measure, but I can’t understand the reluctance to cut the verges when the grass is long rather than when it’s dying down in September/October. I don’t understand the logic of it.”
Ms Richardson said the policy is drawn up to protect the interests of all road users, including pedestri-ans. She added that it is subject to five-year reviews.