The Ministry of Public Works would like to remind the public that owners of property adjacent to a road are responsible for trimming back overhanging trees and hedges on their properties to stop vegetation from projecting into the roadways or sidewalks.

“Overhanging trees and hedges can cause safety hazards to road users including obstructed visibility, injury to pedestrians, pedal-cyclists and bike riders and damage to bus and truck windscreens and injury to waste collection personnel,” a spokesperson said. “The Highways Section’s road cleaning teams make every effort to clear vegetation on roads and overhanging foliage around the Island, particularly after storms and heavy rain, and try to be responsive to any problems that are reported, however overhanging vegetation is normally the responsibility of the adjoining landowner given the over handing vegetation is on their property. Where there is government land adjacent to the roadway, the road cleaning crew will control those areas.

“Vegetation needs to be kept clear of a public road for a height not less than 4.9 metres [16 feet and 1 inch] above the surface of the carriageway or 3 metres [9 feet 10 inches] above the surface of a pedestrian walkway or verge.

“Where the problems are reported, property owners will be asked to trim back their vegetation. The public should be aware that if such informal requests are not actioned, the Ministry has the power to serve a statutory nuisance abatement notice.

“The Ministry of Public Works is requesting the public's full cooperation in promoting safer roads and a better environment by encouraging them to cut back vegetation along their property frontages with the public roads. This effort will grant the road cleaning teams the opportunity to focus their road cleaning and maintenance responsibilities along Government-owned properties at a faster pace.

"Currently the road cleaning teams have been granted additional working hours per day to help cut back vegetation along the public roads."