A Suffolk woman has vowed to “keep fighting” after successfully campaigning to get an overgrown grass verge cut.

East Anglian Daily Times: Zena Gravener tackles the central grass verge on Old London Road, Copdock, with a sickle.Zena Gravener tackles the central grass verge on Old London Road, Copdock, with a sickle. (Image: Archant)

Zena Gravener is now driving to get Old London Road at Copdock reclassified as a B road, which means the roadside grass would be cut twice a year rather than once.

The 73-year-old gave Suffolk County Council (SCC) an ultimatum on Wednesday when she took to the central reservation with her sickle after three complaints to the authority.

Following coverage in the EADT and Ipswich Star, a council contractor turned up at 6am today to tend to the verge.

“It’s fantastic that we’ve had it done but how appalling that it takes an elderly woman to have to do this,” Mrs Gravener said.

“It’s not a long term solution because grass doesn’t stop growing, it should be cut in June and August.” Old London Road used to be part of the A12 20 years ago but it is now classed as a C road, meaning the council is only required to cut the verge once a year.

An SCC spokeswoman said the road was in restricted use because of its 50mph speed limit and weight provision at its northern end.

“To have additional cuts of the verge it would mean that we have to take funding and resource from other activities such as repairing drains or repairing potholes which would remove resources which other Suffolk residents find important,” the spokeswoman added.

“However in the past we have done extra cuts on the road when necessary. Roads are dangerous places and we employ people who are qualified to work in such situations with the right equipment; we do not encourage Suffolk residents to cut verges themselves.”