Landowner Responsibilities – An urgent request

Helping keep West Chiltington Clear, Safe and Flowing.

Please take a look around your property

1. Cut back roadside hedges trees and shrubs

If vegetation from your property overhangs a road or pavement, you are responsible for keeping the route safe and clear.

·  Reveal the full width of the pavement and keep at least 2.4 m clear above it.

·  Over the road, keep at least 5.2 m clear above and 0.5 m beyond the road edge.

·  Keep sightlines, signs and streetlights visible, and remove all trimmings from the road, verge and drains.

2. Keep Public Rights of Way easy to use

Landowners and managers maintain side vegetation, hedges and trees beside Public Rights of Way so they do not encroach onto the path.

·  Clear fallen trees and branches from the route.

·  Branches over bridleways need at least 3.75 m clearance.

·  West Sussex County Council assesses surface vegetation during its inspection cycle.

3. Help water flow where it needs to go

A ditch, stream, drain, culvert or pipe through, beneath or beside your land may make you a riparian owner – even if it sits beyond a fence or hedge.

·  Keep the bed, banks and approved structures maintained and free from debris.

·  Remove litter, garden waste, fallen branches and other obstructions.

·  Do not obstruct, pollute or divert the natural flow of water.

A few minutes every few weeks – and after storms – can help prevent a much bigger problem .

LOOK UP Are branches clear of people, vehicles, signs and sightlines?

LOOK DOWN Are ditches, drains and culverts free of leaves, silt and garden waste?

LOOK ALONG Can pedestrians, wheelchairs, pushchairs, riders and drivers pass safely?

Who normally does what

• Roadside trees and hedges – Most vegetation bordering local roads is the adjacent landowner’s responsibility.
• Public Rights of Way – The landowner or manager maintains side vegetation and clears fallen trees or branches; the County Council deals with the path surface and its own assets.
• Roadside ditches – The adjoining landowner is normally the riparian owner. An exception may apply where the highway authority specifically created or piped the ditch.

Work safely and protect wildlife

• Check for nesting birds and protected trees or hedges before cutting. It is an offence to disturb birds and their nests.
• For work beside a busy road, use a reputable contractor who can arrange any necessary traffic management.
• Do not enter a culvert. Use a specialist if an underground pipe needs inspection or clearance.
• Routine cleaning and debris removal are different from altering a watercourse. Get advice and any required consent before piping, filling, reshaping or building in or over it.

Need to report a problem

Immediate highway safety risk – Phone West Sussex County Council on 01243 642105.

The line is available 24 hours for issues posing an immediate risk.

Road pavement flooding or overgrowth  Report online with West Sussex County Council

https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/make-an-enquiry-or-report-a-problem-with-a-road-or-pavement/

Public Right of Way  Use the Rights of Way reporting page

https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/land-waste-and-housing/public-paths-and-the-countryside/public-rights-of-way/report-a-problem-with-a-right-of-way/

Official West Sussex guidance

• Roadside tree and hedge responsibilities including clearance measurements

https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/maintaining-roads-verges-and-pavements/verge-maintenance/tree-and-hedge-maintenance/tree-and-hedge-maintenance-responsibilities/

• Managing Flood Risk and Riparian Ownership

https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/fire-emergencies-and-crime/dealing-with-extreme-weather/flooding/flood-risk-management/managing-flood-risk/

• Landowner responsibilities for Public Rights of Way

https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/land-waste-and-housing/public-paths-and-the-countryside/public-rights-of-way/landowners-and-managers-rights-and-responsibilities/

Thank you for helping to keep West Chiltington safer and more resilient.

 

Roads

WSCC Highways team are responsible for most roads-related issues, including problems with road condition, drainage, safety/speed limits etc. Concerns about road safety that would require changes to speed limits normally need to be raised via the parish council – and it helps to have as much evidence of the problem as possible.

Emergencies
To report emergency issues such as:

• dangerous potholes
• fallen trees that are blocking a road or pavement
• any other obstruction or spillage blocking a road or pavement
• drain/inspection covers that are missing.
  Phone 01243 642105

Non-emergency problems

Please report problems such as: road flooding, overgrown vegetation and damaged pavements on Love West Sussex

Problems regarding potholes should be reported on the WSCC Roads & Travel page

Footpaths & Bridleways

Walk, Cycle, Ride

We want as many people as possible to have the pleasure and health benefits of exploring West Chiltington’s lovely scenery on foot, bike or on horseback.

To report a problem with a Public Right of Way in West Sussex 

West Sussex County Council provide an online footpath mapping system called imap, which is available on the following link –  imap

Fly Tipping

Horsham District Council are responsible for removing illegally dumped waste from public land and can be reported on the Horsham District Council website.  The removal of illegally dumped waste from private land is the responsibility of the landowner.