Why weed control is necessary
Weeds control on streets and pathways is necessary to:
- Prevent physical damage to paving, kerbs, walls, car parks and road surfaces
- Keep gullies and drainage channels clear
- Avoid spoiling the overall appearance of the borough
How and when weed control is carried out
Weed control is undertaken by a specialist, qualified contractor for which the council has an annual contract.
Weed spraying is undertaken once each year, over a 4-6 week period usually during June and July.
Where weed control is carried out
This weed control contract covers the following across the borough of Bury.
- 660 kilometres of carriageway
- 1200 kilometres of footway
- 9 kilometres of car park perimeters
The borough is split into 32 cells with spraying beginning in the southern part of the borough and ending in the north.
Please note:
- Weather conditions can impact on the progress of the programme as weed spraying cannot be carried out in wet or windy conditions.
- We do not remove dead weeds after they have been sprayed as they die back naturally
2023 weed control programme
The 2023 weed control programme has now completed.
Our specialist contractor treated over 4700 streets, footpaths and bridleways across the Bury borough between July and November 2023.
What we use to treat and control weeds
Our specialist contractors only use herbicides authorised for use in public areas and that have a MAPP (Ministerially Approved Pesticide Product) registration number. No alternatives are permitted under any circumstances.
The weed treatment is carried out using specialist equipment which ensures that it is only applied directly to the weeds and not spread unnecessarily across pavements, tree pits or other plants.
All operatives involved in the weed control contract are trained and qualified to the appropriate NPTC (National Proficiency Test Certificates) certificates of competence, with managers being qualified to BASIS level and being a member of the BASIS Amenity Training Register.
Report weeds on a road or pathway
You can make us aware of issues with weeds on roads or pathways using our online forms.
Invasive non-native plants
Find out how to identify Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed and what to do if you find them on private or public land.