Response details:

Dear Cllr Stephanos Ioannou,

Thank you for your enquiry regarding the condition of the pavements in Lanercost Gardens.

We would like to clarify that the service is not seeking to rely on the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as a reason to avoid carrying out maintenance works. The current growing season has presented significant operational challenges due to periods of hot weather and rapid vegetation growth across the borough, which has resulted in some locations requiring more frequent intervention than anticipated.

At present, all available grounds maintenance resources are fully committed to the borough-wide grass cutting programme, which remains the service’s priority during the peak growing season. The annual shrub maintenance programme is scheduled to commence in this area on 24 August, at which point outstanding shrub and hedge-related issues will begin to be addressed.

In the meantime, the relevant officer will arrange for Lanercost Gardens to be inspected so that the extent of the encroachment onto the footway can be assessed and prioritised appropriately. Should the inspection confirm that pedestrian access has been significantly compromised and presents a health and safety concern, we will consider whether any interim action can be taken ahead of the scheduled shrub maintenance works.

Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.

Kind regards,