Changes to grass verge cutting and weeding in Eastbourne from Spring 2025
From Tuesday 1 April 2025, Eastbourne Borough Council will hand back grass verge cutting and weeding operations to East Sussex County Council - East Sussex Highways. This will be the end of a contract which lasted for around 40 years which saw the borough council self-deliver these services.
East Sussex County Council is the authority responsible for these activities.
The number of cuts will reduce from eight per year to the East Sussex County Council minimum requirement of two per year across the borough, in-line with the standard option for the rest of the county.
Weed treatments on public highways in Eastbourne will be carried out once a year. Residents will be able to reports of regrowth, should they be causing an obstruction or trip hazard, via the East Sussex Highways website.
Why are these services being handed back?
The decision was made at Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet on Wednesday 13 November 2024, as part of a wide-ranging set of measures to help the council achieve a sustainable financial position.
These measures focussed on reducing discretionary services (as opposed to statutory services, which councils are required by law to deliver) and were made in response to the financial challenges the council is facing as a result of the spiralling pressures of homelessness and temporary accommodation, which currently stands at around £4 million every year.
When will the grass cuts and weeding take place?
The schedule of grass cutting and weeding is available on the East Sussex Highways website.
It is anticipated the first cut of the year will take place in March or April 2025.
From 1 April 2025, residents can report issues with these services via:
East Sussex Highways - vegetation
How we are managing the change
- Eastbourne Borough Council and East Sussex Highways officers are working together to ensure a clear understanding of any hotspots that may need to be prioritised for the second cut of the year.
- Eastbourne Borough Council's Environment First team will work with East Sussex Highways to coordinate litter picks ahead of cutting where possible, to minimise the impact of shredded litter. This is in addition to year-round litter picking activity Environment First carry out and facilitate with partners.
- Residents will be able to report any junctions deemed to be unsafe due to limited visibility via the East Sussex Highways website.
- Residents will also be able to report trip hazards resulting from weeds on pavements, via the East Sussex Highways website.
Designated wildlife verges
East Sussex Highways operate a scheme whereby individuals and groups can put forward particular grass verges as a designated wildlife site.
By doing this, it means the wildflowers and surrounding grass will only be cut once, in the autumn.
Applications can be made between the 1st of June and 31st of August each year.
More information is available at live.eastsussexhighways.com/services/services-wildlife-verges
What grass cutting services will Eastbourne Borough Council continue to deliver?
Eastbourne Borough Council will keep responsibility for cutting the grass on the land it owns, including council properties, parks and open spaces, cemeteries, the seafront, and Beachy Head.
Residents can report issues on Eastbourne Borough Council-owned land at:
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