Carmarthenshire councillors who pushed for more frequent cutting of overgrown grass verges and public rights of way will be told the cost before any decision is made. The cabinet member for resources has cautioned against dipping into reserves to pay for it.
Motion calls for two annual cuts
Full council passed a motion in the summer calling for a minimum of two cuts per year of verges, roundabouts and public rights of way, instead of the current single annual cut. The motion cited widespread concerns about their overgrown state and said two people could not walk side-by-side on many popular paths.
The motion added: “Carmarthenshire has some of the most beautiful landscapes and backdrops in Wales and encourages holidaymakers and visitors alike to visit but this unchecked growth can only have a negative visitor experience, including making roadside signage difficult to read, which will have a detrimental effect to the tourist industry we promote and want to grow.”
Funding concerns and budget pressures
It asked the cabinet to look at ways of funding the extra cuts, even if that meant using reserves. At a cabinet meeting on October 19, members heard that the previous decision to reduce cuts to one per year had been made by full council on financial grounds.
Cllr Alun Lenny, cabinet member for resources, said he appreciated the reason for the motion but found it “very difficult” to see where additional funding would come from. He warned against using reserve money because some of it might be needed to support council services facing an estimated £11m overspend for the 2026-27 financial year. Savings of £12m “at least” were being earmarked to balance the books, he added.
Cllr Lenny recommended asking the relevant department to provide a cost for a second grass cut so councillors could weigh it against other budget pressures. “The original decision was approved by full council and it will be up to the council to discuss if they want to reverse it or not,” he said. Cabinet approved the recommendation.
