Residents hit out at council over overgown weeds and foliage

Welcome to the jungle! Residents hit out at council as overgown weeds and foliage make a pavement stroll more like a trek through the Amazon

• A street in Swanage, Dorset, has become almost completely overgrown 
• Residents complain all the leaves and insects make it more ‘like a jungle’

An overgrowth of weeds and foliage along a suburban street has been likened to a ‘jungle’ by homeowners.

Residents saying walking the pavement outside their homes is like an Amazon expedition thanks to the tangled mass of vegetation.

Despite repeated requests to the local council to cut back the overgrowth sprouting from the trunks of mature lime trees on the footpath, nothing has been done.

The problem has become so bad that the jungle-like greenery has spread right across the pavement.

It is forcing people to either walk on the road or face a David Bellamy-style trek through tangled vegetation.

Local resident Belinda Preest struggles to clamber through the overgrown weeds and foliage on her street in Swanage, Dorset

Peekaboo! Ms Preest reveals herself after pushing back a mountain of weeds while walking her dog

Although overgrowth appears every summer on Burlington Road in Swanage, Dorset Council is usually on top of it.

But this year requests to cut it back by homeowners have been ignored.

Swanage is a popular tourist town and people have pointed out that while the centre looks in good order for the summer season, the same cannot be said for the backstreets.

Steve Brickstock said: “Absolutely pathetic and yet another example of how little we actually get locally for our council tax.”

Anne Wood said she has complained to Dorset Council which is responsible for the area’s highways and footpaths.

She said: “The whole street needs cutting. I have seen a young mother with her baby in a buggy having to walk in the road because she couldn’t get up the path.

Oh no! Residents say the vegetation is unsafe to stroll through and leaves walkers ‘with a face full of leaves and insects’

“I have complained and complained to the council to no avail.”

Another local resident said: “If you try and walk through it you end up with a face full of leaves and insects.

“Someone in a wheelchair has got no chance.

“By this stage of the summer the council has usually cut it back by now but nothing has happened. You do wonder what our council tax is for.”

Dorset Council has been approached for comment.

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