Action needed on roadside rubbish, man says
A West Sussex resident is frustrated at the build-up of litteronabusyroadandiscalling for action.
Simon Wilkins, of Lewes Road, Haywards Heath, said the A272 had been ‘collecting litter ingreatproportion’overthepast six months, particularly on the stretch between his home and Scaynes Hill.
He said he told the district council last year that litter was ‘mounting up’ and being strewn along verges and said he contacted them again in January.
“They said ‘sorry, we’re not doing it any more – we’ve assessed the road and it doesn’t meet our health and safety guidelines’,” said Simon.
The district council said it removed litter from the more dangerousareasasoftenasthey can.
Simonsaidthelitterproblem starts on the 40mph section, continuingintothe50mphzone to Scaynes Hill.
“What they’re saying is that the 50 mph zone particularly is too dangerous because there’s not enough safety verges or exit routes for their personnel,” he said.
Simon said there are laybys ontheroadwherecleanerscould possibly park.
Councillor John Belsey, Mid Sussex District Council deputy leader, said: “The council currentlycarriesoutmechanical sweeping of the A272 and adjoining roads between the Birch Hotel and Bedales Corner on a three-weekly schedule; with the section between BedalesCornerandScaynesHill receiving a fortnightly sweep.”
He said all litter bins along the A272 were emptied three times per week as well and the council regularly litter picks sections of the road where it is safe to do so.
But he added there were some sections where it was not safe to manually litter-pick without traffic management in place.
“Thesesectionsaretherefore litter-picked less frequently but we do remove litter from these areas as often as we can,” he added.