Weeds restrict driver’s view

With reference to your article about weeds (Complaints over growth of unsightly problem, KE August 14). I have been in touch with the council several times in respect of this.

It is not only Reed Crescent, there are also spots in Bluebell Road which are a danger to pedestrians as they restrict drivers having a clear view when coming out of side roads.

The council should seek the advice of an independent landscaper as to whether it is viable to remove the weeds (which I believe is doubtful as they probably are deep rooted) or, as mentioned in the article, to remove the shrubs completely and turf the offending areas.

Some borders are ok and should not be removed but certainly all borders on corners (which affect vision) should be removed and turfed.

The current contractor must be clapping his hands, as he will undoubtedly be cutting back the weeds more often in the future if nothing is done. The council is wasting money and should be looking for a solution to this problem. Perhaps they should get down from their ivory tower and look at the problem. Linda White Park Farm

In response to your article on ’weed shame’ around Ashford, I would like to highlight the ongoing problem in Cheviot Way.

I am chairman of the local residents’ association, and members of the association have for many years cleared away the shrubbery, thistles and brambles from the adjacent public footpaths linking Cheviot Way to Simone Weil Avenue and Cheviot Way to Quantock Drive.

The footpaths are in constant use by the elderly, schoolchildren, dog walkers and generally everyone else en route.

It has become a hazard with so much overgrown shrubbery covering the footpaths that the residents’ association has to constantly monitor the situation, cutting and clearing on a monthly basis at times as the likelihood of being ‘stung’ by thistles or ‘tripping’ up among the brambles is a dangerous situation if not kept under control in a ‘dimly’ lit area. It could even be linked to a new Commonwealth sport!

Despite numerous requests over the years to Kent County Council Highways, which monitor roadside shrubs and growth, they are not obliged, according to their instructions, to deal with the adjacent public footpaths, it appears.

Another way of saving maintenance costs for the council? Christopher Cox Cheviot Way, Ashford