Frustrated Haywards Heath resident says health and safety concerns are stopping litter clean-up on A272

Simon Wilkins, 55, of Lewes Road, said the A272 has been ‘collecting litter in great proportion’ over the past six months, particularly on the stretch between his home and Scaynes Hill.

Simon, who is a headhunter recruiter for the house building sector, said he told the District Council last year that litter was ‘mounting up’ and being strewn along verges.

He said he contacted them again this January to complain that the rubbish problem had still not been sorted.

“They said ‘sorry, we’re not doing it anymore – we’ve assessed the road and it doesn’t meet our health and safety guidelines’,” said Simon.

Mid Sussex District Council has responded to the Middy to say that that they remove litter from the more dangerous areas of the road as often as they can.

Simon said the litter problem starts on the 40mph section and continues into the 50mph zone that goes to Scaynes Hill where the speed limit then drops to 30mph.

“What they’re saying is that the 50 mph zone particularly is too dangerous because there’s not enough safety verges or exit routes for their personnel,” he said.

Simon said there are laybys on the road where he thinks people could park vehicles and said some of the verges are ‘two or three meters wide’.

“It’s going to get worse and worse unless something is done,” he added, saying that the litter is a mix of things including takeaway items, building materials and food wrappers.

Simon feels that litter on roads is a problem in the wider area too, pointing to Lindfield as an example where voluntary collectors pick up rubbish.

He said he is pleased residents pick up litter voluntarily but feels the local authority should be the ones to do the job.

He asked: “If they’re saying it’s not safe for them to operate with all their kit and Hi Vis and all the rest of it, then how are they expecting volunteers or community litter pickers to do the same?”

Simon said he and his wife have lived in the area for about 20 years.

“In all that time it’s always been managed and well maintained but we now find ourselves in a situation where the litter isn’t being collected,” he said.

“We’re left in a bit of a mess, literally.”

Simon is also concerned about the local wildlife and environment, and expressed disappointment with people who litter.

“I think it’s just a general lack of any regard to have a clean and tidy Great Britain as it once was,” he said.

Councillor John Belsey, MSDC Deputy Leader, said: “The Council currently carries out mechanical sweeping of the A272 and adjoining roads between the Birch Hotel and Bedales Corner on a three-weekly schedule; with the section between Bedales Corner and Scaynes Hill receiving a fortnightly sweep.

“In addition, all litter bins along the A272 are emptied three times per week, on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and we regularly litter pick all sections of the road where it is safe to do so.

“However, there are some sections where it is not safe to manually litter-pick without traffic management in place; and these sections are therefore litter-picked less frequently but we do remove litter from these areas as often as we can.”

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