COUNCILS in Exeter have vowed to work more closely together in an effort to tackle weeds in the city.
A meeting between the city and county councils on Monday resolved to create a "more joined-up approach" to make sure that the problem dopes not occur again in the future.
Many residents complained that the city has looked shabby after weeds weren't sprayed at the start of the summer.
The city council blamed the county for not providing the necessary funds for the work to be done.
There was particular concern that the city would not be looking its best during next year's prestigious Rugby World Cup, when three games will be played at Sandy Park. Devon County Council is responsible for the upkeep of highways in the city, including treatment of weeds.
For a number of years, the city council has been commissioned to carry out spraying weeds.
But because the work was delayed, the weeds had grown too large and woody for any weed spraying to be effective.
Devon County Councillor Jill Owen, chairman of the Exeter Highways Committee, said: "Although both councils find themselves in extremely challenging times when it comes to funding services, it is simply not acceptable to allow the weeds problem to continue.
"As a result of our meeting there will be a co-ordinated approach and we will be ensure that the available money will be well spent."
It was agreed that additional work would start immediately – both spraying and where appropriate pulling weeds up along the city's main routes.
This will be supplemented by a further spraying regime towards the beginning of next spring, and additional use of the Probation Service's community payback scheme to pull weeds in the worst affected residential areas.
Councillor Keith Owen, Exeter City Council's Lead Councillor for Environment, Health and Wellbeing, said: "We can't allow what has happened this year to happen again and we will be closely monitoring the situation over the coming months to ensure that it doesn't."
Exeter's prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate Dom Morris has been campaigning to get action on weeds in the city and has organised teams to go round the city and pull them up.
He said: "I'm delighted that my summer War on Weeds campaign has brought the councils to the table. It's great to hear that councillors across the spectrum have vowed to work more closely together on the weeds situation in our city.
"The situation should never have been allowed to get this bad and our campaign shall continue to hold councillors to account until the weeds have gone."
He added: "My preference is for the councils to publish a timetable for delivery.
"This will reassure residents that their streets will be cleared and that this will never happen again."
