Grass Cutting

Torfaen County Borough Council is responsible for the cutting of grass on Council owned land which includes parks and open spaces. 

In Torfaen we maintain a network of roads and cycle routes and footways. Grass verges border a significant proportion of this network. Grass cutting is therefore an important part of our highways maintenance programme. 

Grass is cut to:

• maintain visibility for road users 
• keep traffic signs clear 
• keep verges passable for pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists 
•  maintain the tidy appearance of verges in residential areas

Rural grass cutting 

We cut rural verges adjacent to bends, access points or junctions, at least twice a year in order to maintain sight lines and prevent obstruction to motorists' vision. Rural verges frequently used by pedestrians are cut at least twice a year.

Rural verges provide important habitats for a variety of species. As a consequence, we cut a limited width of most rural verges only twice a year. By keeping the width of cutting to a minimum, the remaining verge area can provide a habitat for wild flowers and animals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the grass so long?

Cutting is carried out to a schedule and consequently the grass can grow to considerable lengths in favourable conditions between cuts.

When does cutting start?

The grass cutting season is between the months of April to September.

Do you pick up the grass?

Unfortunately, the local authority does not have the resources to remove the grass cuttings from every grass verge that is Council owned.

What should I do if the length of the grass verge is causing a hazard?

Please let us know by contacting the Street Scene Team on 01495 762200.

Why are certain areas of grass within the highway verges and areas of open space not cut, while the remainder of the grass is cut?

Locations where grass areas have been planted with bulbs (e.g. Daffodils and Crocus) will not be cut until the leaves have started to die back, usually in late June. This is good gardening practice as it ensures that the bulbs will produce flowers again the following year. Unfortunately these areas can become overgrown and untidy in the early summer. Once cut these areas will be maintained as the remainder of grass until the bulbs start growing in the following year.