Motorists and lorry drivers particularly are being targeted for
the next four weeks with a special campaign to remind them not to
drop litter which will include two roadside electronic message
boards.
The Council’s cleansing partners Suffolk Coastal Services Ltd
(SCS) are taking the lead on the campaign and have also linked up
with the Port of Felixstowe to help get the message across.
“Radio Suffolk’s excellent Don’t Be A Tosser campaign has
regularly highlighted one of the big problems facing us which is
the amount of rubbish that is being thrown or dumped by motorists,
particularly on the A12 and A14,” said Cllr Andrew Nunn, Cabinet
Member for the Green Environment.
“We have been getting tough in the last few months, with over 80
motorists issued with fixed penalty notices since April, but we
also want to get the simple message across to people that they
should hold onto their litter and not just throw it out on our
roadsides.
“These two variable message signs (VMS) will help us target our
message at motorists, and particularly truckers using the busy port
at Felixstowe, and hopefully stop some of the quite disgusting
littering that our SCS teams have to clear up,” added Cllr
Nunn.
It is currently costing Suffolk Coastal around £600,000 a year
to clear up rubbish left around the district, with one team of
workers dedicated to just keeping the A12 and A14 clean and
tidy.
The two VMSs will be at Trinity Avenue, Felixstowe near the
port, and at the Orwell Crossing, Nacton on the A14 from yesterday
(January 23) for four weeks.
Anti-littering leaflets will also be handed out to drivers, thanks
to the Port of Felixstowe, at the vehicle check points at the Dock
Gates and will also be available at the Orwell Crossing.
“This Council’s Chief Executive Stephen Baker and others have
been asking the Highways Agency to put anti-litter messages on
their new multi-million pound VMS gantries along the A14 and
hopefully that will eventually happen.
“In the meantime, we have decided to press ahead with our own
initiative and have hired these solar-powered boards to get our
rather important environmental messages out to as many people as
possible.
“There really is no excuse for anyone to drop litter or for
fly-tipping as there are so many bins and recycling facilities for
people to use when they are out on the road, or of course they can
bag it up and dispose of it at home,” added Cllr Nunn.
Anyone that spots someone dropping litter from a vehicle can
report the incident to SCS on 01394 444000.
Photos from yesterday’s launch of the new signs can be seen at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/suffolkcoastal/6755722455/in/set-72157629014185155