CORMAC is advising Cornish residents that now is a good time to check whether their hedges and trees need pruning.

When reports are received of growth hitting vehicles obstructing footways or restricting visibility along Cornwall's 4,500 miles of roads, CORMAC’s safety inspector will visit the site and try to locate the owner and request that appropriate trimming takes place to overcome the problem, and Cornwall Council has the power to serve notice on the landowner if the necessary work is not carried out.

A CORMCA spokesperson said: "Having a good cut back keeps our roads and pavements safe for everyone, including motorists, cyclists, horse riders and pedestrians. You should also think about clearing public footpaths, bridleways and byways. 

"Overgrown hedges alongside pavements can force pedestrians out into the road, putting them at risk from passing traffic. Shading by hedges can encourage the growth of algae and mosses which can make a surface slippery.

"Take care. Cutting should take into account the likely extent of growth in the growing season and the amount branches may be weighed down when in leaf, but heavy cutting can cause damage to plants and wildlife.

"The control of growth coming onto the highway from adjacent land is the responsibility of the landowner on whose land the plants are growing. Boundary hedges bordering the highway are the landowner’s responsibility. Claims could be made against a landowner if projecting growth damages vehicles."

More information is available on the Cornwall Council website under Hedge Management.