Dear Ms. Davis,

REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002

I refer to your enquiry dated 11 March 2009 requesting information be provided to you: If you run an ecological protection scheme for road verges in your area, please could you provide me with the following details:

a) what protection measures a verge receives when it is included in the scheme

b) the list of verges covered by the scheme (and their locations - road name/number and six figure OS grid references would be fine)

c) for each verge, the specific reasons why the verge has been included in the scheme - i.e. the notable species found there, or the NVC community present

If you do not run such a scheme in your area, but you are aware that another body does, please could you refer me to them instead.

The Council is treating your request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Glasgow City Council does not run an `ecological protection scheme' or equivalent for road verges in Glasgow, so I am unable to answer the main points of your request. I am not aware of any other local bodies carrying out such a scheme within Glasgow.

However, we do have various policies and initiatives within the council's City Plan and Glasgow's Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) which indirectly afford some protection to grasslands or other habitats (and associated wildlife) along roadsides.

The LBAP has several relevant Habitat Action Plans notably `Neutral Grassland' and `Boundary Features' and a `Built-up Areas and Gardens' Statement (all these can be viewed on the Council's webpage www.glasgow.gov.uk/biodiversity).

Some of the larger road verges (and other transport infrastructures) are covered under the City Plan through designations as Important Wildlife Corridors. However specific roads or sections are not listed or highlighted. Please note that the motorway corridors (M8, M74 and M77) are managed by AMEY; we have made various proposals for sympathetic management on sections of grassland along the M8 but have no direct control over the implementation.

We have/

We have established one pilot road verge management project at the Carmunnock bypass (NS5905.5742). At this site a broad amenity-cut margin was noted for its orchid populations, but these succumbed on an annual basis to repeated mowing. The site since 2007 has been managed by annual cut and lift, which has resulted in a more colourful display. Further details can be supplied if required.

Other management issues relate to hedgerow cutting in some rural parts of the city. At such sites we implement a periodic cut and avoid the autumn season to ensure berry crops are not lost to wintering birds.

I hope that the above addresses your enquiry.

The Council accordingly feels that it has complied in full with your request. However, if you feel that this is not the case please contact Mr. Donaldson as per the above details.

Yours sincerely

Robert Booth

Executive Director

Land & Environmental Services

Glasgow - Proud Host City of the 2014 Commonwealth Games

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