IN the last three days I have driven along both the A23 and A27, through a number of different local authority areas.
In every case the amount of litter lining the sides of the roads was nothing short of a disgrace and should be considered a national embarrassment.
These are strong words perhaps, but I am sure that I am not alone in these sentiments, and las
t year the author Bill Bryson famously raised the issue on Panorama.
The problem of roadside litter is particularly bad at this time of year for a variety of reasons.
For many weeks, daylight hours have been at a premium, reducing the amount of safe working times available to litter picking staff, and there is very little foliage on any roadside vegetation, which serves to become a litter trap.
While these issues are certainly a problem, the main issue that precludes our roadside margins from being kept clear is the health and safety requirement issued a few years ago to keep the nearside lane closed to traffic to protect the workforce while litter clearing operations take place.
This requirement is a double- edged sword, since for many local authorities the possibility of getting a lane closed for something as basic as litter picking is hard to justify, especially its likely effect on traffic flows and the possible congestion it might cause.
A quick internet search will reveal that local authorities up and down the country are facing similar problems, which suggests that a national solution is probably required.
Who do people choose to use our roads as dustbins? On my recent journeys I have seen fast-food packaging, drinks bottles, plastic bags and even fuel cans left by the side of the road.
Rather than castigate local authorities for not clearing up effectively when one hand is tied behind their backs, perhaps we should focus on the behaviour of the anti-social few who cause the problem in the first place?
