Highways/Roads
The responsibility for roads lies with Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC). If you have any problems with your road then you need to contact CBC as below.
There is an online system for reporting potholes and other highway problems which is a quick and easy way to report any issues with roads
You can report issues by clicking on the link www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/reportit on a computer, mobile or tablet. The greatest benefit to reporting highways issues in this way is that the issue is sent straight to the highways engineers, so the process of inspection and fixing the problem can start without delay. Another advantage is that you can use the online system to track progress with any issues that have been reported online. This is not possible with problems reported through email.
The highways email address to report highways issues has been discontinued because it is a slower way to report as emails used to sit in a queue waiting for a Customer Service Advisor to be available to process and it had been known to take five days, and longer if it is over the weekend.
If you need to report an emergency, such as a streetlight with wires exposed, please contact our 24 hour emergency team on 0300 300 8049. This number is answered out of office hours for emergencies.
Street Lighting
Faults? For street lighting read the sticker on the street lamp and make a note of the number.
In the Parish of Flitton and Greenfield, Central Bedfordshire Council (Tel 033 300 8000) has responsibility for street lights and therefore all maintenance issues should be reported to them. Ensure you get a reference no. and a committment to investigate the problem within 10 working days.
Paths
Whilst the Parish Council does have some minor powers over road side paths most maintenance is done by CBC so if you have any problems please follow the same instructions as per the roads.
The Parish Council is aware that some public footpaths & bridleways are in poor condition because of the extended period of bad weather. We are hoping that with the cooperation and help of volunteers and landowners we can improve the drainage and durability of key paths with the aim of keeping them open for most of the year.
Ditches & Flooding
The responsibility for clearing ditches next to the road lies with CBC. If you have any problems with those ditches then you need to contact CBC on the appropriate number. For flood water coming from the street phone highways on 0300 300 8049 or customer.services@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk . Ensure you get a reference no. and a committment to investigate the problem within 10 working days or less.
CBC are aware of three key areas prone to flooding: Pulloxhill road junction, Flitwick road junction and Silsoe Road with excess water running down Sand Road. Work continues to try to resolve these issues. If you see a recurrence of these or any other issue please phone the above number and contact the Parish Council clerk so that the Parish Council are aware and can take further action if necessary. For useful information about how to prepare for flooding, please see this link.
Grass Cutting & Hedges
Grass cutting is the responsibility of the Parish Council. Please contact the clerk(clerk@flittongreenfield.org.uk) if you have a concern.
Residents and landowners are reminded of their obligations to keep hedges and trees cut back so they do not block pavements, roads or obscure oncoming traffic or traffic signs. Please check your hedges and trees now!
Principles
Wherever there is a pavement or a private lawn adjoining a public grass verge the grass will be kept cut short on a regular basis during the cutting season. The number of cuts will vary depending upon the growing conditions. Grass will not be cut where it is already in good condition.
Grass verges adjoining fields will be allowed to grow and only be cut once or twice a year to allow good conditions for wildlife unless:-
- Both sides of the road adjoin fields and walkers regularly use the road to walk (Certain stretches of road verge are designated walker refuge areas and cut accordingly).
- On bends where the grass will obscure visibility
- it presents a danger (e.g. Is likely to obscure large animals like deer).