§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware of the litter on the M.11 motorway between the A.406 and the M.25; what steps they intend to take to ensure that the contractor responsible for its removal clears it up; and whether a penalty for non-performance will be applied to the contractor responsible for this length of motorway. [HL863]
§ Lord WhittyI have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency, Mr Peter Nutt, to write to the noble Lord.
Letter to Lord Marlesford from the. Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr Peter Nutt, dated 15 February 2000.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Lord Whitty, has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary Question about litter on the M.11 between the A.406 (Junction 4) and the M.25 (Junction 6).
Our Term Maintenance Contractors are responsible for litter sweeping and clearance on instructions from our agents, who make regular inspections and safety patrols, plus occasional checks at night. While no penalty is payable, payment for the work would not be approved unless it was carried out to the satisfaction of our agents.
142WAWeather and other constraints permitting, the M 11 between Junctions 4 and 6 is scheduled for litter picking and sweeping within the next two weeks.
No exceptional litter problems had been identified recently and no general complaint received about this stretch of motorway, but we do acknowledge that, in spite of our best efforts, during adverse weather conditions or when traffic queues build up, large amounts of litter can accumulate very quickly along any busy motorway.
If you have any further queries on this matter please contact the Highways Agency's Area Manager, Mike Ford, on 01306 878219.