Suffolk Highways launched the Community Self-Help Scheme in 2019 to give town and parish councils more flexibility to take care of minor highway maintenance tasks in their own communities.
With local authority budgets under pressure, not all tasks that improve the look and feel of public spaces can be carried out by Suffolk County Council. This scheme offers councils a practical way to fill that gap — with full guidance and support.
What Can Be Done?
The scheme covers a range of small-scale but important tasks such as:
Grass cutting
Tree and hedge trimming
Weed removal
Footpath clearing
Sign and bench cleaning
Painting street furniture
Gully area tidying
These are the kinds of jobs that make a real difference to the appearance and safety of shared spaces.
Flexible Ways to Get Involved
Councils can choose one of four options to carry out the work:
Hire a private contractor
Use your own trained staff
Organise community volunteers
Purchase services from Suffolk Highways
Whichever route you choose, approval from Suffolk County Council is needed before starting work — to make sure everything is safe and legal.
How Can Councils Get Involved?
To join the scheme, councils need to:
Decide what work they want to carry out.
Choose one of the four delivery options.
Submit the relevant form and documentation to communityselfhelp@suffolkhighways.org
Suffolk Highways will help ensure legal compliance, and offer advice on training, safety, and PPE. This support helps ensure that volunteers and workers stay safe and compliant with highway laws.
Caring for Roadside Nature Reserves
Some verges are designated Roadside Nature Reserves (RNRs), supporting rare or protected plant species. These are managed carefully and require special attention. Volunteers interested in helping can contact RNRs@suffolk.gov.uk
The Community Self-Help Scheme is a great opportunity for local councils and residents to take pride in their communities by improving their surroundings — safely, legally, and with full support from Suffolk Highways.
Explore the full details of the scheme by following this link.
Visit our dedicated Suffolk Highways page and watch the recording of our latest Suffolk Highways Forum which focused on the Self-Help Scheme.
