Damage caused to grass verges is continuing to blight attractive residential neighbourhoods in the city, according to long-standing city councillor.

Ken King represents the council's Labour Group on Neighbourhood Services issues and continues to be concerned by the damage that is caused by vehicles leaving the highway and chewing up grassed areas in front of people's homes. He said:

"This is a persistent problem that the council has failed to get to grips with in recent years, and that is a real bugbear of residents. They tell us repeatedly, both in person and through ward surveys, that the appearances of their neighbourhoods is very important to them.

"But the problem of vehicles pulling up onto verges, including buses I'm told, is making a huge mess of a number of areas in York (see attached photos). The council needs to come up with some kind of solution to the problem.
"In some instances it may be appropriate to plant small trees to prevent access to the verge, but this is not possible or appropriate for all verges. I'm calling on the Executive Member to look into the issue and provide a response to council, as I'm sure all councillors will have received some reports from constituents on the problem.

"What I would also like to see is members of the public taking down the details of vehicles and getting photographic evidence, where possible, of those that are responsible for this environmental damage. It is selfish behaviour which spoils the appearance of an area. Labour is committed to clean, safe and attractive neighbourhoods and believes that the vast majority of residents share that view.

"In 2006/7, £10k was spent on verge maintenance as a result of this activity, which I'm sure will have increased since. Something more needs to be done to stop it".