Why are our roadsides such a disgrace?

MAJOR dumping spots for litter are motorways and trunk roads, which come under the jurisdiction of Highways England. Routine maintenance includes collecting litter on roadsides, but there are still many areas that are nothing more than a tip. The worst spots are slip roads where it would appear drivers and passengers, having consumed food and drink while travelling, decide to chuck the packaging out of the window before they arrive at their destination. Could cameras be installed to record offenders? Takeaway food and drink not only results in litter, but encourages drivers to snack and drive, which is as bad as using a mobile phone at the wheel.

M. BROOM, Wellington, Somerset.

I’VE picked up tons of cans and plastic bottles over the past ten years, but there’s some litter that’s impossible to clear up. I have a suggestion for clearing up the motorway verges, which are too dangerous for volunteers to tackle: litterpicking robots! could there be a competition for hightech whizzkids to come up with a simple machine that follows the white line or barrier, sucking up every bit of rubbish it encounters?

ANDReW JARVIS, Ferring, W. Sussex. MY VILLAGE is on the main A428 and a lot of the litter comes from cars passing through. Culprits should have to wear a high-viz jacket with the slogan ‘I am a litter lout’ on the back while they pick up rubbish for a week.

TONY SMITH, Turvey, Beds.

MY HUsBANd Richard picks up litter on our road. We live in a rural area, but he often finds Mcdonald’s cups and cartons, even though we are 20 miles from the nearest takeaway. He has started litterpicking on the main road and in just one week collected enough rubbish to fill his van plus six fertiliser bags.

J. DORReLL, Much Wenlock, Shropshire. WE LIVE on the main road between Chelmsford and Basildon and the nearest McDonald’s is four miles away. Yet on a regular basis, leftovers and packaging are thrown out of cars near our home. If drive-throughs installed cameras and printed the registration numbers on packaging, this could help to deter offenders.

D. WOODS, Billericay, essex.