Council stung into action against towering nettles (From Southend Standard)

Council stung into action against towering nettles

8:00am Thursday 23rd August 2012 in Echo News

NUISANCE nettles are becoming a prickly issue for residents in part of Laindon who want urgent action to cut them back.

A path next to the children’s play park, in Markhams Chase, has been plagued by brambles that reach 10ft high, and nettles that stretch to 8ft tall, since the start of the year.

Basildon Council contractors trimmed back the bushes two weeks ago after the Echo contacted them, but according to residents in the road, not enough has been done.

Peter Twine, 64, of Markhams Close, said he had been in contact with the council and it had told him the weeds would not be cut back until October at the earliest.

Mr Twine got in contact with the Echo after he saw a girl injure herself while riding her bike down to the children’s play park, which is next to the vicious brambles and nettles.

He said: “I am not surprised children are getting hurt. “Regular action needs to be taken to ensure the weeds stop getting this way. “The girl can’t have been older than ten, and she went away absolutely distraught, with blood all down her shirt. The fact they are there is bad enough, but next to a children’s play park is ridiculous.”

He said he would cut them back himself, but thought the council should be taking care of the site. He added: “I was talking to my neighbours and they agree with me that they haven’t been cut by the council since last year. “I was recently told the brambles wouldn’t be cut back until between October and March next year. I shouldn’t have to pursue the council, it should be monitoring what is going on.”

Paul Romay, 54, from Markhams Chase, added: “I cut the brambles back weeks ago because of the state they were getting in. The trouble is, in this heat, they grow at quite a rate. Kids are always going backwards and forwards on their skateboards and it would be easy for them to get caught and hurt.”

Basildon Council said the problem plants were growing at a faster than normal rate due to the hot weather and rain, but said it would cut them back again in the next few days.