Brighton and Hove City Council are reviewing how they maintain pavements across the city and have recently trialled new machinery to help with weeding.
This includes mechanical sweepers, weed rippers and specialist strimmers with weed ripping brushes.
Councillor Tim Rowkins and Councillor Theresa Fowler recently met with members of the Cityclean team to inspect the new machinery and hear their feedback.
They concluded that significant improvements have been made using the new machinery which will be used to accelerate weeding over the next few months.
Weeds across Brighton & Hove have increased since the committee decision to end the use of glyphosate in 2019. This situation must urgently get back under control.
The priority is to ensure our streets, pavements and environment are safe and accessible for residents and to limit damage to highway infrastructure.
Councillor Tim Rowkins, Chair of the City Environment, South Downs and The Sea Committee, said: “We know that dealing with weeds on our pavements is a top priority for residents and so we are looking at several additional tools to accelerate our weeding and ensure our pavements are accessible for our residents.
“I have been regularly meeting with our street team and I was pleased to be able to inspect the new machinery. The brush weeder was particularly impressive.
We look forward to reviewing and sharing future weeding plans with residents.”
While the council have a responsibility to ensure our streets and pavements are safe and accessible, plants we often call weeds, can benefit us.
Plants help to cool our city, absorb rainfall and help with air pollution.
By allowing plants such as dandelions, common knapweed and red deadnettle to flower, we’re able to create joined-up habitats that provide food and shelter for local insects and wildlife.
Plants provide important pollen and nectar resources, which help feed our hungry birds, bats, amphibians and mammals, including hedgehogs.