Concerns over lack of weeding in Gloucester

There are concerns a lack of weeding at Gloucester Docks is making the area look run-down.

The issue is also a problem in Kingsway and Quedgeley according to Labour councillor Karen James who says there have been a record number of complaints for weeds on footways.

She raised the issue at a Gloucester City Council meeting at North Warehouse this week.

A second Hako weed ripper was purchased at the end of 2025 and is now in operation, according to the council’s corporate plan report presented at the overview and scrutiny committee on June 29.

But Cllr James said: “We haven’t seen it in Kingsway at all.”

She also said during the meeting that the area around North Warehouse is “in a terrible state with weeds.”

“It looks really sad.”

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that that weed clearance has been sadly lacking around the city.

“It seems that the city council can’t even keep the area surrounding its own office clear of weeds. It is really sad.

“The Docks is one of the jewels in Gloucester’s crown and to see it looking so run-down sends the wrong message to visitors and residents alike.”

Cllr Jame intends to raise the issue again at the next meeting of full council this month.

During the meeting on Monday night, council leader Jeremy Hilton (LD, Kingsholm and Wotton) said he’d written to the head of the service asking when areas of Kingsholm would be ripped.

“There are some areas where it is not perfect,” he said.

“We have got the two machines and I do think the cleanliness in the city is fairly good, though it’s not perfect.

“Certainly in the city centre it is very good but I need to go and have a look at Kingsway to help sort the problems out.”