This Council notes that:

1.    Trafford’s Active Travel strategy encourages students to walk to school and residents to make local journeys by walking, but many such journeys involve rights of way that can become impassable due to stinging nettles and brambles.

2.    The current weed spraying programme only covers the road network and adjacent pavements. Other public rights of way for pedestrians including ginnels and alleyways, have no proactive programme for weed treatment, so stinging nettles and brambles are left to grow until they block the pathway, and moss is left to grow until pavements become slippery.

3.    Issues are only resolved on a case-by-case basis if an individual reports a pathway when it becomes impassable, which hinders the ability of our local residents to walk more often.

This Council resolves to:

-      Develop a proactive scheduled work programme for weed spraying footpaths, ginnels and other public rights of way.

-      Carry out scheduled inspections of pavements and footpaths, identifying any slip hazards, such as moss coverage, so these pavements can be cleaned.

The Motion set out on the Summons regarding Getting the Basics Right: Footpaths and ginnels was moved and seconded.

Following a debate on the matter, the Motion was put to the vote and was declared lost.