Grass cutting

Highway verges and grass/shrub areas, rural verges, road and street weed spraying.

  • we do not collect cuttings as the cost of collection and disposal is considerable
  • clippings on pavements are usually "blown" off the path back onto the grass area.
  • when we cut grass verges we aim to avoid leaving clumps of grass cuttings on surrounding paths. Sometimes, especially in wet weather, it is unavoidable not to get grass on paths. Where this happens we will do our best to remove it speedily

Highway verges and grass/shrub areas

  • we cut grass on Council owned highway verges and grass/shrub areas alongside Blackburn and Darwen’s roads and streets, to make sure that people can use roads and pavements safely
  • we cut the grass 7 times a year from March to October, approximately once every 5 working weeks during this period. There is a limited budget for grass cutting so this is the maximum amount that is manageable
  • grass areas within housing estates are now under the ownership of Together Housing. You will need to contact them for a grass cutting service

Rural verges

  • these are usually a meter wide strip of grass, cut at the side of rural or B roads
  • we cut the grass twice a year, between June and October, to stop the grass from coming onto the road or blocking views

Road and street weed spraying

  • weeds on Council owned streets and hard surfaces are controlled for the following reasons:
    • appearance: weeds look unsightly and collect litter
    • safety: weeds can interfere with visibility for road users and hide traffic signs. Weeds in road channels and gullies can prevent good drainage. Their growth in footways may cause uneven slabs and broken tarmac
    • damage prevention: weed growth can destroy paving surfaces, force apart kerbs and crack walls, increasing maintenance costs
  • the treatment of weeds are timed to coincide with the weed growth through the summer months, for maximum control. Following each application, weeds can take approximately two to three weeks for the treatment to be fully effective and the weed to die off
  • Blackburn with Darwen Council uses approved herbicides that are licensed for use in the UK