11:47am Monday 15th March 2010
By Liza-Jane Gillespie
CALLS have been made for roads in the Severn Vale to be cleaned.
Cllr Peter Tyzack, South Gloucestershire councillor for Pilning and Severn Beach, has criticised the state of roads in his ward, claiming they are dirty and covered in litter.
Last week South Gloucestershire Council announced it would be carrying out a spring clean of the A4174, the Avon ring road, however Cllr Tyzack believes other roads in the district are being neglected.
He said: "I am not disputing that the ring road needs cleaning but they don't seem to clean anywhere else.
"There are many more roads in the district that could do with a spring clean. The A38 in Patchway through to Almondsbury is filthy, with dust and muck all over the road.
"The A403 near Severn Beach is a coastal road and a lovely road, but it takes a lot of heavy traffic and there is a lot of litter and so much plastic blows off the trucks.
"The ring road is an important road and it is important that it is looked after but all the roads should take it in turns."
South Gloucestershire Council recently launched its annual Big Spring Clean and is encouraging communities across the district to take part in local litter picks.
Heather Goddard, executive member for communities: "It's just not true to say that 'nowhere else gets cleaned' other than the ring road because our litter and cleansing teams cover all streets and roads in the district.
"Our performance is better than a lot of other authorities, but we are not complacent and that is why since 2007 we have adopted a much tougher approach to dealing with those who litter our district.
"For instance, our relatively new enviro-crime team have successfully prosecuted a company that was seen allowing its waste to escape along the ring road and the team issues Fixed Penalty Notices too.
"It is important to remember that we wouldn't need to put all this effort into clearing litter if people and companies didn't litter in the first place. As a society, we all need to stand up to those who litter and make clear it is unacceptable in this day and age."
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