Hangleton's giant weeds 'a danger' to people and dogs

Brighton and Hove has been in the national news recently due to its 'weed-choked pavements'.

Dawn Barnett, who was a city councillor for Hangleton and Knoll for 18 years, said the state of pavements in her former ward is “disgusting”.

She said residents in Hangleton should get a 15 per cent reduction in their council tax until the streets are cleaned by Brighton and Hove City Council.

Former councillor Dawn Barnett is demanding action (Image: The Argus/Andrew Gardner)

“I know I'm old but my God, it was never like this before,” she said.

“It's disgusting, it's filthy. The city council needs to get out there and get on with the work they said they're going to do but they're doing nothing.

“There's lots in the paper about what they're going to do, but they've had months and they haven't even cleared the streets of weeds.”

Dawn, 82, said that budget cuts cannot be used as an excuse by the city council.

Weeds have been allowed to grow along pathways (Image: The Argus/Andrew Gardner)

“It has nothing to do with cutbacks because everywhere else has had cutbacks too and they're all clean and tidy,” she said.

“I came all the way back from Littlehampton last night through Goring and it was spotless.”

Meanwhile, Knoll estate resident Ann Tizzard told The Argus the weed problem is now so bad she fears her dog could die.

“I’ve lived on the Knoll estate for 55 years and it’s never been like this. It’s like an assault course trying to get around the estate,” she said.

Ann Tizzard fears her dog could die due to grass seeds (Image: The Argus/Andrew Gardner)

“When I walk my dog she wants to bury her head, she seems attracted to all these weeds and grasses. If she gets a grass seed in her eyes, she’s very old, she’s 13, she can’t have any anaesthetic and could die just from all this.”

The Argus also heard how people using mobility scooters in Hangleton have been forced to change route because many pathways are now inaccessible.

Some weeds tower above people in the area (Image: The Argus/Andrew Gardner)

“They can’t even get down the paths,” said resident Liz Compton.

“They’re in the roads because they’re too scared to go on the pavements. You’re going to end up with somebody dead.”

But the city council has blamed the former Green administration, saying the situation was allowed to get “out of control”.

People say they expect more from the city council (Image: The Argus/Andrew Gardner)

Councillor Tim Rowkins said: “We know that weeds across Brighton and Hove have increased since the cross party committee decision to end the use of glyphosate in 2019.

“Unfortunately things got so out of control under the Green administration that, three months since Labour took control, we are still working to urgently get the situation back under control.”

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Cllr Rowkins said the city council has been trialling “new machinery” to speed up weed removal and has begun piloting a “traffic light system” to make sure the worst affected places are dealt with first.

“Our top priority is to ensure our streets, pavements and the environment are safe and accessible for residents and to limit damage to highway infrastructure,” he said.

Cllr Rowkins said anyone with concerns about weeds in their area should complete an online form via the city council website to get them removed.