Oxford roadside grass cutting expected to be completed by end of July

Roadside grass verges across Oxford will continue to be cut throughout July as part of the council’s ongoing grass cutting schedule.

The schedule began on June 5 but exceptional growing conditions have meant mowing is taking much longer than usual.

The council is currently carrying out its first scheduled cut as part of its two-cut programme for roadside verges in Oxford.

The purpose of this first cut is to prevent grass from posing an obstruction or hazard to pavements, roads or cycleways, or buildings.

The grass has grown higher due to warm and wet weather (Image: NQ)

Mowing is also taking place across council housing areas in numerous places such as Blackbird Leys, Cutteslowe, and Rose Hill.

Oxford Direct Services (ODS) has mown roughly 45 per cent of grass verges throughout the city, with the focus so far on Blackbird Leys, Marston, Churchill, Northfield Brook and Temple Cowley.

The council said all areas will be covered over the next month.

Mish Tullar, head of corporate strategy at Oxford City Council, said: "Several months of wet weather, followed by an unusually warm spring has meant that grass across the city - on roadside verges, on our estates and in parks has grown very quickly.

"The council wants to reassure residents that the grass verge cutting programme is still ongoing. ODS has been working hard to get a first cut done everywhere.

"Though, because of the previously saturated ground which delayed start to mowing in our council housing areas, and the length of grass on verges, the whole process is taking much longer than usual.

"ODS are working hard and are taking on additional resources to reach all areas of the city over the coming weeks.

"Once this round of mowing is completed, our estate areas will be cut fortnightly, and verges will be cut back again later in the summer."

Due to warm and wet spring weather, grass has grown much higher than usual, causing additional resourcing challenges for ODS, as it is more difficult to cut.

Wet conditions meant the ground was waterlogged, thereby delaying scheduled mowing in March and early April in some parks and housing areas.

To tackle these challenges, ODS plans to increase resources to undertake grass verge cutting.

It is anticipated that this first grass cutting programme will conclude by the end of July.

Subsequently, regularly scheduled mowing will be conducted in parks and estates with council housing areas being cut every two weeks.

ODS is continuing to maintain and mow grass verges near junctions and locations where visibility could be impeded.

Residents concerned about visibility on a grass verge can report it on FixMyStreet for review and incorporation into scheduled work by ODS.