SKDC steps up to clean A1 verges

The project is being funded by a £60,000 budget agreed in a cross-party vote to tackle specific grot spots.

Cabinet Member for Waste and the Environment, Cllr Rhys Baker, said: “This initiative is a significant investment towards keeping key transport routes clean and safe.

“The simple truth is that we wouldn’t need to do this if it wasn’t for the actions of selfish individuals who illegally throw their waste and litter out of the vehicle window, impacting our countryside and threatening our wildlife.

“SKDC has been actively seeking a solution to this issue since it was first raised. The challenge was to find a safe and cost-effective way to clear litter from such a dangerous stretch of road.

“I am pleased to confirm that following positive discussions with the roadworks contractor, they have agreed to allow us to deploy teams to work in designated areas where they will not hinder the roadworks or compromise safety.”

The affected area includes stretches from South Witham up through Colsterworth, Grantham and Claypole.

SKDC has separately invested in new bins for A1 laybys with a dedicated team now emptying them – and clearing layby litter – three times a week.

Operatives cannot legally work within 1.2 metres of the A1, even if there is a footpath, which is why traffic management in the form of carriageway closure during roadworks was seen as a solution. This also means that the central reservation cannot be tackled.

Costs include staff obtaining Construction Skills Certification Scheme cards, as well as specialist PPE and lighting, as the contractor is unable to provide illumination for the site. All vehicles used must be fully equipped with beacons, signs and chevrons to maximise visibility and safety.

Cllr Baker added: “Volunteers from SKDC’s Street Scene staff have stepped forward to work night shifts and I cannot thank the staff involved enough for getting involved to undertake this vital work.”