WHILE a community councillor is flagging damage to pavements caused by weeds, Aberdeenshire Council say winter conditions are more likely to bring deterioration – and they are looking to community groups, householders and businesses to look after Stonehaven’s streets.
At last week’s meeting of Stonehaven and District Community Council, Jim Stephen raised his concerns about the growing assortment of dandelions, ragwort and other wildflowers lining our streets.
He said: ”Weeds are now causing damage to our roads and pavements. The resin at the Carron walkway costs about £100 per square metre to lay – and the weeds are coming through.
”We are playing a very expensive game here as the infrastructure of the town is being broken down.”
Mr Stephen said a short term saving by one Council service could bring long term expense to another.
He said: ”We have the total cost to the local authority to look at. Landscape services does the weed spraying but it is the roads department who have to fix the damage.”
Winter not weeds
An Aberdeenshire Council spokesperson said: ”In most cases weeds are a symptom rather than the cause of pavement deterioration. Weeds typically establish in detritus and soil that accumulates within existing cracks and defects in the surface. The root structures of common pavement weeds are generally too fragile to damage the pavement itself, although larger trees and shrubs with more substantial root systems can cause structural issues.
“Across Aberdeenshire, the freeze thaw cycle during winter is a far more significant cause of pavement deterioration. Water enters existing cracks, freezes and expands, gradually breaking down the surface over time. Weeds often become established in these damaged areas, making the deterioration more visible.
“That said weed control remains an important aspect of maintaining the appearance and usability of the public realm, and we continue to keep our approach under review within the resources available.”
Half million pound disinvestment in landscape services
In this year’s budget, the local authority signalled its move towards ever-greater reliance on volunteers. Savings totalling over £9 million were achieved by a series of cuts including pruning the landscape services budget by £500,000.
The spokesperson added: “While savings identified for Landscape Services do impact the scale of our weed control operation, we are increasingly working with community groups across Aberdeenshire who are helping to make the best use of available assets and resources in their area.
”We’d like to thank all the residents and businesses already helping to maintain the footways outside of their properties. It really does help to make a huge difference.”
Horizon Group say ‘no more’
Most folks seem to agree more businesses and householders could and should make more effort outside their own properties.
But Stonehaven’s volunteer team who look after the town’s hanging baskets and planters along with a series of feature areas say they cannot also be expected to keep streets and public areas free of weeds.
Convenor David Dredge said: ”We already do enough as a group – we cannot be asked to do any more. And please remember we are not a young group. This will also put people off joining Horizon if all they see us doing is weeding streets. It is not the most enjoyable of jobs.”
”This is a matter we will have to bring up at the next Town Centre Improvement Group to make this clear to the Council.”
Horizon volunteers – Convenor David Dredge, left, with volunteers who at their work party today they tidied the boardwalk dolphin seating area