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not resolvedNow I have a few new routes I have a few new annoying low branches or shrubberies to deal with. WoL and Donkey Lane both have prime 'examples'.
Can anyone confirm what the law actually says about random members of the public trimming vegetation on a thoroughfare?
I've done NEPN a couple of times but not so sensitive as it's nowhere near where I intend to spend many years living!
I once reported such an obstruction (and it was) on the path near Hawthornvale to be told that the Council knew about it but could not act as they were trying to trace the owner of the land on which it grew to get permission to/have him cut the offending item.
I suspect the cover of darkness may obviate such niceties.
Generally, it is the responsibility of whoever owns the offending plants to trim them. If the plants are interfering with the safe use of a road, which includes paths contained in the Council's list of public roads, then the Council can take action.
You could try and speak to the owners of the offending plants and ask them to trim them, or offer to do it yourself. If there is no obvious owner then you could do it yourself, not technically legal but the chance of anyone taking action against you is vanishingly small.
Also, don't uproot any wild plants and don't touch anything listed in Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as both are offences.
Over last summer a large bush increasingly covered a corner of a steep downhill stretch of bike path just as it turns into Balgreen Avenue - to the extent that you couldn't see dog-walkers or cyclists entering the path the other way until the last second.
Over the winter I took it upon myself to snap a little branch off as I went in each direction. After five months of gentle pruning it's very nicely cut back.
There was a particularly vengeful bramble that grabbed me everytime I went down Craighouse last autumn. kept meaning to take the snippers along...
My suggestion is go for it if some bit of vegetation is a hazard. If you're wearing a yellow jacket people will assume you know what you're doing.
Say hello to all passers-by. Many will congratulate and thank you. Comments will include things like " Aye, doing the Council's job for them!"
Put all clippings etc well away from the path so they can't be blown or thrown where they'll be an obstruction.
'Finger pruning', as Firedog suggests, can also work well, especially if we all did it!
There is one well known member of Spokes who has been doing this for years, so this sort of 'direct action' is well established.
In most cases the council 'ought' to do it, but if it's a case of a bit of vigorous seasonal growth or wind damage then it can only be a good thing.
In terms of ownership, I was always led to believe that if branches were over 'your' land you could cut them.
I did some badly overgrowing Buddleia on the Broomhouse Path last year, which was completely obstructing the cycleside of the path. Got a number of thankyous for doing so.
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