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The Courier
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Courier
Grass-cutting scaled up across Perth and Kinross as council funds second trim for A-road verges
Council bosses say they are stepping up roadside verge-cutting across Perth and Kinross following controversial changes last summer. The grass beside every public road is scheduled to be cut once. And A-roads will get a second cut later in the season after additional funding was set aside in this year's budget. It follows a reduced service last year as a result of budget reductions. This led to concerns about safety and the unkempt appearance of key routes. Perth and Kinross Council has now acknowledged the move 'resulted in noticeable changes to verge maintenance outwith settlement boundaries, with some roads not being cut at all'. The council is also promising improvements to its weed-spraying programme. It says wet and windy conditions and 'unforeseen contractor issues' hindered efforts last year. Verge-cutting is due to begin at the end of May. Every A, B, C and U-classified public road in Perth and Kinross will be given at least one full cut. And an additional £70,000 was made available in this year's budget for a second cut to A-class roads. This will be carried out in late July and through August. Junctions or sections of roads where there is deemed to be a safety issue will also receive an extra trim. The council says: 'This will be sufficient to ensure annual vegetation growth is kept in check whilst achieving some biodiversity benefits by not cutting the whole network twice.' Residents are encouraged to report any safety concerns via the MyPKC website. Trunk roads, such as the A9 and A85, will continue to be managed by Transport Scotland. The plans are set out in a new briefing for local councillors. The council says it has also addressed the contractor issues that plagued the weed-spraying programme last year. Streets and hard surfaces will be sprayed twice this summer. The first round is just starting, and a second spray will commence in August with completion by mid-September. Contractors will also carry out weed control at a number of parks involved in the Grow Wild scheme. The policy aims to boost biodiversity by leaving grass to grow longer in parks and other open spaces. But it has led to complaints from residents who say it encourages dog-fouling, littering and the spread of ticks.
The Courier
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Courier
Perth and Kinross pavement parking hotpots revealed
More than 500 drivers have been hit with £100 fines since pavement parking was outlawed in Perth and Kinross. And a number of penalty charge hotspots are already emerging. St Catherine's Road in Perth tops the table, with 11 tickets in the first two months of the ban. But Ruthven Street in Auchterarder is close behind with nine fines. Perth and Kinross Council started enforcing the pavement parking ban on January 6 this year. By the end of February wardens had issued 525 penalty charge notices. Another 53 drivers had been fined for parking at dropped kerbs across Perth and Kinross. And 45 received tickets for double parking. The figures were obtained through a freedom of information request. They show warden activity was well spread across Perth and Kinross in the first two months of the ban. Only one or two fines were recorded at most locations on most days. However, four vehicles were fined for pavement parking on the Aldour Industrial Estate, Pitlochry, on January 13. Another four received the same treatment at Almondgrove Place on the Inveralmond Industrial Estate, Perth, on February 17. And four separate tickets were handed out on a rural road off the A827 at Logierait on January 8, 9, 10 and 12. The top 12 pavement parking hotspots were: Pavement parking, double parking and parking across dropped kerbs is prohibited under The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019. But it was left up to local councils to decide when to start enforcing the rules. Perth and Kinross Council says pavement parking can cause hazards, particularly to people with mobility or sight impairments, as well as damaging pavements. A spokesperson said: 'Although we are enforcing the ban on pavement parking by issuing penalty charge notices, our hope is the number of these issued will fall as motorists become used to the new rules.' Residents can report pavement parking, double parking, and parking at dropped crossings using the My PKC service.
