Article in Brighton Argus March 2016

Bosses at Lewes District Council admitted they have suspended litter picking on high speed stretches due to a number of accidents and near misses while staff were cleaning roadsides.

Extract from e-mail from Lewes District Council April 2016 

Following a number of recent accidents and near misses across the country during cleansing activities, we had suspended all cleansing on high speed roads using our staff, without a minimum safety zone of one metre or at least a recognised foot path. There are several areas along the A26 for example where there have been several vehicle accidents, where there is no pavement and steep side banks where we simply struggle to operate a litter pick safely from. This decision is in line with national guidance issued by the Department of Transport and other Health & Safety bodies.

Sussex Express April 2016

A 13-night programme of intensive litter clearance has started on the A26 and A27. …Last week, the council engaged Highways England contractor Balfour Beatty as a short-term solution to clear away roadside litter.

Dorset Waste Partnership to James Miller 4th April 2016

Unfortunately, the problem is a national one. Following a fatality, there was a change in health and safety legislation in the UK that requires all work on roads, including litter-picking, to have traffic management in compliance with the Department for Transport’s code of practice for safety at street and road works.

Night litter clearance gets underway on A26 and A27 – Lewes

Safe roadside litter picking