Forum Topic

Weed infested pavements

Is this a deliberate policy?If so it needs to be sorted and quickly.Many streets in Brentford are now a mire of Weeds and invasive vegetation.It might be very right on but it has serious and costly implications.  It does not take much for a rather delicate looking weed to displace the sub soil under paving slabs and walls and once well established can undermine kerbstones, drains sewers and electricity and gas ducting.It's not unknown for a front garden wall to collapse from the voids caused by uncontrolled vegetation of a seemingly harmless nature.But the cost could run into £££££££s and liability for neglect or deliberate neglect could be a real problem in a very short time.However, it's also the householders who may well be just as culpable, if it's a case of lack of council resources or staffing issues, should LBH not remind home occupiers of the risks and request that they look after at least the bit in front of their property?Streets have always been kept weed free for many reasons, some structural, some for public health and some for simply keeping streets clean and tidy.It was embarrassing showing a visitor from abroad around today who was aghast at the state of so many streets with wheelie bins and recycling boxes scattered all over pavements, weeds and blown litter.And a few days off from many street celebrations.

Raymond Havelock ● 701d9 Comments

Maybe there should be one councillor in each ward responsible for fostering Civic Pride as part of their remit.It is very much the expectation of every citizen in many other countries that it is part and parcel of living where you live and not just for others to do.Does not mean everyone does their bit but it is the vast majority that do a little bit that makes the difference.Here people can't even be bothered to take in boxes and wheelie bins days after being emptied and leave them on the pavement.That was very much part of the fabric of society here but has dissolved over the last half century.

Raymond Havelock ● 694d

Sadly it's not just Hounslow. I drove from Newhaven to Lewes in Sussex. The plastic hanging in the trees, litter for miles on end. A really nice welcome for people off of the ferry. Mind you Switzerland has always been clean. It seems people have pride in their country there.

Nicholas Beard ● 695d

It's a public health and safety issue.Whilst the potty and narrow minded decisions of Councils cause more problems then they ever solve, thats the norm. to be expected of anything that ain't broke, so meddle with it.But there should be a higher degree of expectation from residents to at least dal with the weeds outside their property i.e. garden wall, path/ pavement border etc.  It's not much to ask and not much for a more able neighbour to do an elderly or less able neighbours.But once some weeds get established they can be a nightmare to remove or contain.But in our current society it has become almost something of disdain to do such a thing.  " Look at that nutter over there sweeping outside her house."In reality that 'Nutter' ought to be commended.Stopping use of weedkillers is fine as long as there is an effective alternative.But as usual a half cocked decision based on modelled facts and false claims.Really an issue hijacked and manipulated to avoid the stigma of cost cutting.Except the costs could be huge in insurance and damage claims further up the line.But that seems to be deemed an acceptable risk.  Very few pursue as it's made so hard to do.All this just reflects the wilful degeneration of the urban environment exemplified by the increase in large Brown Rats, now prolific even in broad daylight near Gillette Corner but running round all over the place.Reminds me very much of New York in the early 1980s. So run down, poorly maintained and neglected.  Took an almighty effort to sort it out. But they did.It really is starting to look knackered here, Trees ripped out from years of neglect, Pavements still in a state, Potholes still dominating side streets.Rather embarrassing for the "Worlds Best Local Council" if pictures go viral.

Raymond Havelock ● 695d

Yes I think it is because they won’t use chemical weed killer anymore and they ‘claim’ they don’t have the resources to manually scrape out the weeds regularly so the place does look very third world. Also a lack of management by the Council. Last month they cleared weeds from gutters in our area but, only one side of the road, and they didn’t tackle pavements!!  I thought they would come back the next day to ‘finish’ the job but no such luck!  Now a month later still no luck and I have been in Switzerland and northern Italy for two weeks and  NO litter to be seen.  No cigarette butts or chewing gum on pavements and NO weeds!  It made me realise what a dump Hounslow Borough is.

Steve Taylor ● 697d

To be fair, usually it's not that bad here in Brentford. It's usually reasonably maintained. Even the weed and detritus in the kerbs and gutters got tackled a few times by LBH workers - even during the lockdowns.It is at least, generally presentable. It is now rather embarrassing and not a good advert.But now there's a massive task which is probably beyond a bloke with a hoe.The actual cost of subsidence , uneven pavers and loosens kerbstones and the risk of unstable walls, damaged cabling, gas and water installations let alone the various skin and pollen irritants of some invasive species is going to be huge down the line.Ignoring the power of nature and just how a pretty little weed can have long song and invasive roots. Something learned hundreds of years ago.

Raymond Havelock ● 700d

Sorry to read your story Raymond. When I travel up to Northfields I feel I'm entering somewhere upmarket!One trip I would recommend though is a wander down Church Street, Twickenham. Delightful and close to the Thames and Eel Pie Island Museum!

Jim Lawes ● 700d

I could not choose which day he was coming into London.Sad bit is he is a Film location finder and I had bigged up Brentford quite a bit to the point he agreed to come here rather the usual meet up in a posh venue in town.Felt a right $%%£ afterwards. Lucky he is a lifelong friend who also grew up in Northfields but has not been here in over 25 years now.But he was shocked at even the places he used to go. Most were gone!But it was tatty streets almost everywhere.

Raymond Havelock ● 701d

A lot of councils are not using weed killer as it is bad for the environment. As for litter it is really part of our culture. I observe in laybys cars pull up in the evening to eat take away from drive through etc and throw the packaging out of the windows when finished.

Nicholas Beard ● 701d

Shame that you needed to show your visitor from abroad around on the day of collection. While I agree with you re wheelie bins - at least the forcing of them on people with small front spaces - there will inevitably be bins and boxes lying around on the day of collection, many people not being in a position to put them back in place until returning home in the evening.

Anne England ● 701d