Craven District Council : Council launches campaign to clean grass verges in Craven

Council launches campaign to clean grass verges in Craven

Craven District Council has announced a campaign to clear verges on the main roads of litter this spring.

The council’s waste management team is drawing up a programme to tackle litter on the A65 from Skipton through Gargrave, Coniston, Hellifield and Long Preston to the district boundary past Settle.

Litter picking will also take place during March on the A6068 through Glusburn and Crosshills, the A59 from the West Marton boundary to Beamsley, on the A629 and on the A56 from the Broughton roundabout to the Thornton boundary.

Councillor Carl Lis, Lead Member for Greener Craven, said: “We are aware that due to some thoughtless travellers there is an accumulation of litter on our road verges in the district.

“As in previous years we are taking a proactive approach to ensure Craven looks at its best this spring. We are drawing up a programme of litter picking, which does require some planning as the Council needs the assistance of NYCC to create a rolling road closure programme.

“We do also tackle litter on non A roads, with an established daily road sweeping delivered by Waste Management Services; however we do have difficulty providing this service during periods of heavy rain and snow.

“We would also urge any community groups who are interested in taking part in litter-picks to contact the council, and of course we would ask people not to spread litter and fly-tip in our towns and countryside in the first place.”

The Environmental Protection Act of 1990 states that if a person drops, throws, deposits, or leaves anything that causes defacement in a public place, they are committing a littering offence. People caught littering can be issued with a fixed penalty notice. Failure to pay will result in prosecution, so always try to use a litter bin or take it home.

If groups would like to organise or take part in a litter-pick event or community clean-up, Craven District Council can help by providing free refuse sacks, gloves, litter-pickers and free collection of the rubbish.

Please contact Waste Management Services on 01756 700600, or email wastemanagement@cravendc.gov.uk for more information.