Central Beds Council have told Maulden Parish Council that they will no longer clear roadside ditches, they have adopted a kerb-to-kerb approach so anything outside the kerb is the nearest landowner’s responsibility to maintain.
This is the case even if the verge and ditch are on Highways-adopted land, or your deeds clearly show the ditch or watercourse is outside your property boundary so you do not own the ditch. CBC say that, as the nearest landowner, it is your riparian responsibility to maintain it and reduce the risk of flooding from the watercourse – and CBC may take legal action against you if this is not done.
Here is CBC’s leaflet explaining riparian responsibilities which they have told local residents still apply even if the road alongside your property boundary is a major A road.
For information, there is a drop-in event on Thursday, January 23, 3.30pm-6.30pm at Shefford Town Memorial Association, where CBC, the Environment Agency, and the Bedford Group Of Internal Drainage Boards want to hear about recent flood events in and around this area.
Riparian Ownership leaflet FINAL v1_0
