A section of busy road that attracts a lot of litter has today been given part 1 of a thorough clean-up. Part 2 will be completed next Thursday (26 April). The A449, running from the Claines roundabout to Junction 6 of the M5, is often the subject of complaints – but it has proved very difficult to organise litter picking, as it is a trunk road and the carriageway needs to be closed before the work can take place.

A section of busy road that attracts a lot of litter has today been given part 1 of a thorough clean-up. Part 2 will be completed next Thursday (26 April). The A449, running from the Claines roundabout to Junction 6 of the M5, is often the subject of complaints – but it has proved very difficult to organise litter picking, as it is a trunk road and the carriageway needs to be closed before the work can take place.

Worcester City Council has had a number of discussions with partner organisations to help overcome the problem, but up to now to no avail. However, action is now being taken.

Mike Harrison, Head of Cleaner and Greener City , said: “I have struggled for a long time to find a solution to this issue, and have been very concerned that as the A449 is used by many visitors to Worcester , they will have a bad impression of the city. We have now made arrangements to close one lane of the A449 from Claines to Junction 6 on Thursday 19 April, and then do the same in the opposite direction on Thursday 26 April. A 30-strong team of council workers will make sure both areas get a thorough Spring clean along the whole length of this stretch.”