As reported in The Press, Earswick Parish Council planned to dig up the hawthorn hedge in Strensall Road on safety grounds claiming the footpath next to it needed to be widened
- but met with opposition from angry residents who set up a petition.
Gill Bradley, whose property has a boundary with the hedge and said it was a home for nesting birds and pollinators, received a letter in July from the parish council informing her of its original intentions and said at the time she was ‘baffled’ by the plans.
The letter said the council had received ‘several complaints about the narrowness of the footpath’ next to the hedge, ‘near misses’ with passing traffic and one incident of ‘someone being hit by a wing mirror of a passing vehicle’.
The hedgerow has been the subject of previous safety claims.
Now, City of York Council has confirmed its maintenance responsibilities for the hedge, which is next to an “adopted highway”.
Officials at the parish council said the hedge will not be removed and parish council documents propose it should engage in dialogue with City of York Council over new crossing measures allowing for the widening of Strensall Road by the removal of double-hatched road markings in the vicinity and its consideration of new traffic controls.
YOU’LL FIND MORE ON THIS STORY AND OTHERS AT www.yorkpress.co.uk OR PICK UP YOUR COPY OF THE NEWSPAPER ITSELF AVAILABLE SIX DAYS A WEEK AT YOUR LOCAL NEWSAGENT

York Outer MP campaigning for better bus services in 2026
Warning of 'untold harm' being done to York river
Harrogate District Hospital's maternity services 'good'
YO1 Radio and Media is delighted to announce that Nick Hancock has been appointed as Managing Director from 1st January 2026.
York Grand Opera House plans for new seats and better views
Points failure at Selby causes delays and cancellations
Lendal Bridge in York to close for 2 months for repair works
York Ice Trail is back for 2026!


