by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
Verges in some parts of Dorset will only be cut twice this year – compared to a more frequent pattern in previous years.
The decision has been taken as part of Dorset Council’s declared climate and nature emergencies, according to independent Dorchester councillor Les Fry.
Less cutting of the roadside verges is said to be helpful to wildlife overall – including plants and insects, although the council says it will always cuts areas where visibility for drivers and pedestrians is important.
Cllr Fry told Dorchester town councillors the verges were once cut twelve times a year, which was then reduced to six times, leaving the cuttings on the side of the road, but this was not as effective as hoped. He said the subject was among the most frequent ‘complaint’ to his council email.
He said from this year some verges would only be cut twice a year – in April and October, with the cuttings collected up and taken away.
Cllr Stella Jones, who sits on the town council but is also the Dorchester Council chair, said she hoped the change in policy would encourage wildflowers.
In the same meeting she asked for attention to be paid to railway line border areas, which she said were often covered in litter because volunteers or staff were unable to enter railway land for safety reasons to remove it.
She told the meeting that among the recent litter she had seen was a pack of 24 unopened cans of lager just beyond the railway fence on the approach to Dorchester South station.
