Highways responsibilities and overgrown vegetation

Highways responsibilities and overgrown vegetation

West Sussex County Council is the highway authority and is responsible for dealing with vegetation that is obstructing the highway where action is needed for safety or access.

The parish council is not the enforcing authority, but where appropriate we may make local contact with a resident or landowner first to alert them to the issue and give them the opportunity to cut back the vegetation before the matter is referred to the County Council. This informal approach can often resolve the problem quickly and avoid the need for formal letters.

If the matter is reported to the County Council, its usual process is to ask the landowner or occupier to cut back the vegetation within 14 days. If there is no action, further letters may be sent. If the issue remains unresolved, the County Council may arrange the work itself and recover the cost from the landowner.

This reflects the County Council’s powers under section 154 of the Highways Act 1980.