I HAVE had quite a lot of contact from local people regarding difficulty using pavements and rights of way because of overhanging vegetation.

Normally the councils do not cut hedges etc. during the summer months because of nesting birds but we are just coming to the end of that period and sometimes it is particularly difficult for users of batricars and children in buggies to use our footpaths and pavements.

Overgrown hedges and trees are very difficult at this time of the year and if your property has such a hedge or tree in it, you are responsible for cutting it away from the public highway, which includes pavements.

The county council can inspect a problem and will write to an owner or occupier of such a property instructing them to carry out the work if it is on an adopted highway.

This can be reported via the somerset.gov.uk website or you can ring or email me, and I can do it for you if you live in Chard North.

As county councillors, we were recently invited to visit the Somerset waste partnership depot near Taunton where the recycling lorries go to sort our plastic and food waste etc.

It was really interesting to watch the emptying of the lorries as each compartment was emptied into a designated bay, baled up, and got ready to be distributed around the country for re-use.

One of the items that they won’t pick up from your doorstep are blister packs from medicines, however, Chard Inner Wheel are keen to receive them for recycling and you can drop them off at St Marys Church, The original factory shop, Combe St Nicholas Church, Alpine grove and Clare house in the Chard area.

On a positive note from my last column, the bench is now in place in Stringfellow park and Touches lane has had some success with a few potholes having been filled in.

I am not sure how many local people know the current status of this Restricted Byway (not a road) this means that it is illegal to drive a vehicle down the route unless you have permission. In short, this is only really able to be used by the residents.

This has been quite an eye opener for me as a born and bred Chardonian, however, in its current state I wouldn’t want to take Zoe (my little car) down it at all and I will be continuing my fight on behalf of those residents that use this route to make it safe.

Please contact me if you live in Chard North and you think I can help. Jenny.kenton@somerset.gov.uk 07921574019

Written by county councillor Jenny Kenton