A PROJECT aimed at improving the biodiversity and appearance of road verges has received a mixed reaction from county councillors.

The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership is consulting on plans to adopt the national Flowers on the Edge project in parts of Weardale and Teesdale.

It would see the AONB partnership work closely with Durham County Council to manage road verges to ensure public safety, while encouraging wildlife.

Rural verges with plant-life could be cut just once per year around October, with the grass then left to dry out before being collected. Certain seeds would then be re-planted to create more attractive verges.

Andy Lees, of the AONB Partnership, said: “Road verges are a really important resource for some of our more scarce wildflowers and for pollinating insects like bumblebees, and it is important that we find ways to manage this resource which combines road safety, visual amenity and conservation of biodiversity.”

But Councillor John Shuttleworth believes one cut per year is insufficient in areas prone to ragwort.

He said: “Once again people in rural areas are being short changed and are paying for a service they don’t get.

“Ragwort is a problem around here and if there is only one cut per year it will get out of control.”

Other county councillors are more open to the scheme, including

Councillor James Rowlandson, who represents Barnard Castle East.

“We already have a project in Durham that sees wildflowers planted on road verges and roundabouts, which has been well received,” he said.

“We need to know more about how it will work but on the whole I am in favour.”

Mr Lees said there was no “one size fits all” regime, adding: “ Some verges might need a less frequent cut, beyond the ‘safety swathe’, to encourage wildflowers. Many others might benefit from an annual cut where they are currently abandoned.”

He said verge management could be designed to help stop the spread of ragwort in sensitive areas.

“It is helpful that ragwort is a late flowering plant, so timing the grass cutting so that the flower doesn’t get chance to set seed could be one strategy,” he added.

Jimmy Bennett, the council’s clean and green manager, said: “We’re seeking the comments of members and will be responding to the partnership as soon as we can.”