Agenda item

The Assistant Director of Operations and Public Protection provided the Committee with an update on the litter issues on the A1 and principles around background work on the matter.

The District Council was responsible for litter picking on trunk roads, which included the A1. National Highways were responsible for litter picking on motorways and special trunk roads and had the overarching responsibility for the use of the A1 road and its maintenance.

Lay-bys on the A1 were regularly litter picked by the District Council’s street cleansing team. A consideration on this matter was the safety of litter picking on approximately 40 miles of dual carriage way through the District (from Long Bennington to Stamford). This would require a lane closure, speed restrictions and working in conjunction with National Highways to establish when other works were due to take place on the road. Works would usually be undertaken overnight to avoid disruption to motorists.

There were safety considerations to take into account between the Council’s staff and other road users at the time around access, lighting, traffic and uneven ground. The Health and Safety Executive had recently prosecuted an Authority where somebody had lost their life as a result of litter-picking on a dual carriage way in Norfolk.

Due to National Highway works being undertaken overnight, the Council were reliant on the street cleansing staff volunteering to complete the works as over time, meaning they would be unavailable to work the following day. The litter-picking would take weeks to complete and would be constrained by any programs National Highways had at that time.

One Member queried whether approaching a specialist company where staff were trained to litter-pick on busy roads was a possibility.

It was noted that approximately 50,000 vehicles passed through the A1 daily and a bad impression may be given to motorists with the considerable drop in the quality of cleanliness of the side of the A1.

Newark and Sherwood District Council had successfully cleaned large stretches of the A1 during the daytime in groups of three employees. Concern was raised that people may not visit or invest in South Kesteven if the A1 stretch of road was badly presented.

It was suggested that Officers undertake work in liaison with National Highways and provide a business case on costs and options.

The Leader of the Council noted that there were lay-bys every half mile on the A1, where bins were available and emptied daily.

One Member highlighted that the scale of the litter issue on the A1 was worse in certain areas and was particularly hidden by vegetation on the side of the A1 road. 

The Deputy Leader of the Council noted that other parts of the A1 outside of South Kesteven were also experiencing littler issues. The importance of health and safety was also outlined and risk assessments would be put into place.

Working in conjunction with National Highways on rolling lane closures and alignment of diaries could cause delays in operating the littler-picking.

Further concern was raised in relation to a possible litter abatement order and fines compelled against the District Council if the littler worsened.

It was suggested that a company and trained staff may litter-pick and cut the grass verges at the same time.

The Deputy Leader of the Council clarified that Newark and Sherwood District Council were closing the lanes, working through the night and had stated that previously used methods of cleaning the A1 were no longer suitable and they were now working in conjunction with an external company.

One Member queried whether Officers had the capacity to present a business case on this matter.

It was proposed, seconded and AGREED:

1.    That the Committee recommend that a business case be produced by Officers and brought back to the Committee in December including costing options.

2.    That the Committee request The Leader of the Council to lobby on behalf of South Kesteven District Council to enable possible funding opportunities or the legal responsibility shifted back to National Highways.