All adopted highway hard surfaces are treated every year to manage weeds. Weeds can destroy surfaces and create trip hazards if left untreated. Treatment is usually in June or July.
It is an offence to allow certain types of weeds to spread onto the highway from adjacent land, these weeds are listed in the Weeds Act 1959.
How are weeds treated?
Weeds are sprayed using an environmentally friendly herbicide. The herbicides we use have a very low toxicity and is safe to use in open areas used by the public and their pets.
Common Ragwort
Common Ragwort can cause serious illness or even death to livestock if eaten in sufficient quantities.
We have a duty to control Ragwort on highway land adjacent to fields where livestock graze or where livestock feed is being grown. It is not Council policy to eradicate common Ragwort as it is an important part of Conwy's biodiversity. Sometimes Council staff will need to hand-pull the weed if chemical treatment presents risk to other species of plants or animals.
Japanese Knotweed
Japanese Knotweed is a very persistent, adaptable weed that can grow from tiny fragments of plant and can spread very easily.
We will regularly treat areas of Council land affected by Japanese Knotweed in order to keep growth under control.
The Council may also request landowners or homeowners to control Japanese Knotweed growth on their own property if it is at risk of crossing onto Council land (such as a road or school property boundary). If owners do not take appropriate action, the Council may treat the Japanese Knotweed up to the property boundary and recover the costs of treatment from the owner of the property.
Please note: The Council is not responsible for dealing with invasive weeds on private property. This is the responsibility of the landowner or homeowner. If you would like advice or guidance on dealing with invasive weed species such as Japanese Knotweed on your own property, please contact Natural Resources Wales.
Contact Us
To report instances of controlled weeds on Council land, please contact us using the enquiry form below. Please provide as much detail as possible.
Fill in our online contact form