Vigilante hedge trimmers warn over ‘dangerous’ path

Last summer, the hedge on Old Road in Headington had become so overgrown that the pedestrian path had been completely covered, forcing pedestrians onto the cycling path.

After months of inaction and reports, resident James Thorniley, who has since been elected as a Green city councillor, Steve Wooliams, and county councillor Emma Garnett took matters into their own hands.

This summer, the local representatives have described the situation as having improved, but said maintenance should be undertaken to prevent a return to last year’s situation.

Ms Garnett said: “I’m very glad this path is in a much better state than it was a year ago.

“But we need routine maintenance from the landowners responsible as standard so that people can walk and wheel around our city safely and easily.

Steve Wooliams and James Thorniley, who helped cut the overgrown hedge on Old Road (Image: Emma Garnett)

Councillor Emma Garnett, who helped cut the overgrown hedge on Old Road (Image: James Thorniley)

“This is why the Oxfordshire county Green group amended this year’s council budget to include £900,000 of new ring-fenced funds to maintain pavements, paths and cycleways.”

Mr Thorniley added: “Recently, I don’t think Old Road is as bad as it was last year, but the hedges will of course grow back and need maintenance.

“This happens in quite a few locations in Oxford.

“While having some vegetation makes the environment more pleasant and provides shelter for birds, if it’s overgrowing the pavement, particularly where the path is a shared cycle path, it can make it really dangerous and difficult to get around.”