North Devon drivers criticised for roadside litter problem

NORTH Devon Council has hit out at irresponsible drivers for adding to roadside rubbish on the A39 and A361 North Devon Link Road. Since the start of March, council staff have been out nearly every day picking up litter between Bideford Bridge and Stone

NORTH Devon Council has hit out at "irresponsible" drivers for adding to roadside rubbish on the A39 and A361 North Devon Link Road.

Since the start of March, council staff have been out nearly every day picking up litter between Bideford Bridge and Stonelands Cross, near Tiverton. As a result, 1,274 bags of rubbish were collected - twice as many bags as last year's operation.

Most of the rubbish was fast-food packaging, thought to have been dropped by passing drivers. Other items, like old signs, carpets and car bumpers have also been collected.

Simon Green, the council's service manager, said: "Despite highlighting how much rubbish we picked up last year, it seems some drivers are continuing to dump their waste along the road or throw it out of their windows.

"This not only damages our environment, but also costs us our time and council taxpayers' money to clear up.

"What's been particularly disheartening this time round is that, even though we finished our clean-up last week, we've since been back over an area that we previously visited, only to pick up a further 42 bags of new rubbish. It just shows the inconsideration that some drivers have."

It is the fourth time such a clean-up has been carried out along the 34-mile stretch of road, with co-operation from South West Highways. This is on top of regular clean-ups carried out in the lay-bys, where wheelie bins are also provided for drivers to use.