Litter from drivers wiping out wildlife
Stiffer fines appeal to end roadside scourge
EXCLUSIVE
BY
RUBBISH tossed out of car windows along roadsides is killing millions of our rarest and most important wildlife, a Mirror probe has found.
Campaigners warned it is not only an eyesore and a danger to motorists and road cleaners but also a threat to species such as shrews, voles, wood mice – a vital food source for birds of prey.
On Tuesday the Mirror’s Environment Editor took to the verges of the A27 on the outskirts of Brighton, on the border between East and West Sussex.
Although it passes through some of England’s most scenic landscapes, it is one of Britain’s filthiest roads.
In the space of 45 minutes, she collected five bin bags full of cans, coffee cups, bottles, sweet and crisp wrappers and cigarette packets. Discarded shoes, polystyrene and plastic sheeting were also found by volunteers.
Residents set up a campaign group two years ago to get authorities to tackle the mess.
Until now problems with enforcement have meant few offenders are punished across the UK, with the A1, A34, A14 and
A46 also among the country’s dirtiest roads.
On motorways, campaigners say it is almost impossible to be fined unless a motorist drops litter in sight of police. Highways England and councils are responsible for cleaning up our main routes but some rubbish found by volunteers is more than 40 years old due to the difficulty of arranging litter picks.
A Highways England spokesman said: “We routinely pick litter across the motorway network, however the simple fact is if litter wasn’t dropped in the first place it wouldn’t need to be picked up.”
Next month, Maidstone in Kent will use LitterCam CCTV, a new scheme to fine motorists for throwing rubbish on roadsides. Penalties will start at £90 and rise to £120 if unpaid after 15 days. The
ROAD TO RUIN Litter pile on the outskirts of Brighton maximum on-the-spot fine in England is £150. LitterCam boss Andrew Kemp aims to start similar trials in Wigan, Gtr Manchester, and Sheffield, South Yorks.
Allison Ogden-Newton, head of Keep Britain Tidy, wants littering drivers to get heftier fines and three penalty points.
Supporting the trial in Maidstone, she said: “Roadside verges are a haven for wildlife but every year millions of shrews, bank voles and wood mice are killed when trapped in drinks bottles.”
Crispin Truman, head of CPRE, the countryside charity, added: “We need a wholesale shift in how packaging is designed, used and recycled to help prevent littering in the first place.”
We need a shift in how packaging is recycled to prevent littering
CRISPIN TRUMAN ON OUR THROWAWAY CULTURE
A VICAR who opened a livestream service looking like a Blues Brother after a Zoom blunder has become an unlikely online sensation.
Rev Vaughan Roberts, 62, appeared before his congregation wearing a black fedora and dark sunglasses, looking just like Joliet Jake Blues from the 1980 film.
It starred John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as brothers on “a mission from God” to get their old band together to help save an orphanage.
Rev Roberts said his wife Mandy, 62, had inadvertently added a Blues Brothers filter while she was setting up his mobile phone for the service.
He said: “At least it wasn’t Rambo or the Godfather. SOUL MAN I suppose it’s meant to be
Joliet. I look a lot more like John Belushi than Elwood Blues.”
The mistake was made on Sunday as Rev Roberts prepared for a service at St Mary’s Church, in Warwick.
When the service began, Mandy whispered: “I don’t know what I’ve done but there’s a hat and glasses on your face and
I don’t know how to turn it off.” Rev Roberts said: “I decided not to come forward again and do the rest of the service from the bench. Thankfully, it was only on my face for a couple of minutes while I was doing the welcome. “It wasn’t until I got home and photographs and videos were pinging around on social media that I realised it was a Blues Brothers filter. “Unlike in the film, I did not go cartwheeling down the aisle.” Even so, the footage has been viewed by thousands of people on social media. Tom Caswell posted: “You should do this every week – Rev Roberts proving he is definitely a Soul Man right there.” Ben Kingston added: “I was just waiting for him to start cartwheeling down the aisles with James Brown asking, ‘Can you see the light?’.” Stephen Keen said: “This has truly brightened up my day. Funniest thing I have seen in a long time.” Chris Edmonds commented: “We now have expectations for fancy dress attire in future services!”