LETTER: Roadside trash a bad example

I am writing to make you aware about the escalating amount of rubbish that lines the sides of the roads.Particularly fine examples of this can be seen on Golden Jubilee Way in Eastbourne and the A27, especially between the two roundabouts at Lewes/Kingston.

It is very sad that people can drop rubbish without feeling any responsibility for the unsightly mess they leave behind. The rubbish I am referring to is mainly plastic in nature, so this will remain in situ for a very long time. Bags, cans, bottles and plastic bags contribute to an array of detritus visible as one drives along these fast roads and really sets a very bad example for those visiting Sussex.

Is it in fact an offence to drop litter in this way and, if so, why do we never hear of people facing prosecution?

My letter to you is really about what can be done to clear this offensive waste from beside our roads. Is it indeed the responsibility of the Highways Agency or does it fall to some other department within the council?

I have a suggestion, which is that those people doing community service should play a part in clearing the rubbish (if Health and Safety permits) but I don’t know if this is a viable option. I do hope that my letter does not just ‘end up in the bin’ because we will all feel better about our countryside if it ‘looks better’ and I genuinely believe that people will be less likely to add to the litter problem if there is none visible in the first place. It might also be helpful to have more litter bins positioned in laybys and visible signage to act as a deterrent.

Jackie Hooper

Derwent Road

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