Appendix D – Potential Trials for Highways in 2022

ESCC Highways are currently reviewing the following alternative weed maintenance techniques with the potential to trial in select areas for 2022:

• Foam Stream - Although this will not work as a wider approach, the trial would be undertaken on specific areas where this technique will be most efficient. 

• The opt out approach

• The opt out approach would give streets the option to ‘opt out’ of weed spraying. This would be done with the expectation that all members of that street agree and that they would in place undertake some sort of weed maintenance. An agreement, or guidance would be included outlining safety and expectations. This would only be an option on cul-de-sacs or residential roads with low-speed limits. This approach is already being used by Manchester City Council and Exeter City Council.

• Reactive Weeding
• • Another option is reactive weed maintenance, rather than programmed works. This would work on the same principle as other highways reactive services, such as potholes, whereby ESCC would only attend to weed control when areas are identified by a highway steward inspection or by customer report. This would require defining when an area becomes a safety issues due to amount or size of weeds. The method of control would vary depending on location.

Note: moving to a reactive approach would lead to a deterioration in asset condition if regular treatment is not undertaken.