Action scheduled
Litter
Sent to National Highways less than a minute later. FixMyStreet ref: 9540584.
I am writing to report the poor condition of the lay-bys along the A69, which require urgent attention. The standard wheelie bins previously located in these lay-bys have been removed. They have been replaced by plastic bin bags hung from the metal frames originally designed to restrict wheelie bin lids. The lay-by heading east next to Blenkinsopp Castle is in a particularly poor state. There are currently two overflowing bin bags, and rubbish is scattered across the ground. First impressions are vital. For motorists entering Northumberland from the west, this unsightly litter is the very first thing they see. Could you please arrange for this specific site to be cleared, and review the current waste collection strategy for these lay-bys?
Updates
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Thank you for making your report about your litter concerns on the A69.
We can confirm that as of 1 April 2026 following the end of the 30-year Road Link (A69) Limited Contract, National Highways assumed maintenance responsibilities for the A69. As part of the Contract hand over process, National Highways have decided to retain the litter collection duties rather than delegate these to the local authorities along the route as is the practice on other parts of the trunk road network.
Consultations took place with Northumberland County Council (NCC) prior to the end of the Contract, and it was agreed with them that their (Corporately marked) bins should be removed from our network to avoid future responsibility confusion. It should also be noted that as part of the outgoing Contract, the presence of bins in lay-bys weren’t part of either our Contract with Road Link, or Road Link’s Contract with their maintenance contractor.
The decision to install bins in lay-bys was taken by NCC and following a trial around fifteen years ago with the then Tynedale Council and consultation with both Road Link and us. Bins were serviced as part of NCC’s refuse collections in the area. It should be noted that we don’t t have the refuse collection facilities that the local authorities do and as such, it’s our policy not to install litter bins in lay-bys.
We understand from our colleagues from Road Link that NCC removed bins from lay-bys on the A69 in Cumbria around eighteen months prior to the end of the Contract. This was due to overuse and misuse by locals supplementing their two weekly bin collections. Following removal of the bins, instances of fly tipping and abuse were greatly reduced over the following months allowing NCC to litter pick lay-bys monthly rather than the twice weekly collections carried out by their refuse waggons.
Further to this, we understand that where NCC have litter collection responsibilities on our network (such as the A1), they have a policy of removing litter bins where excessive fly tipping is encountered.
Lay-bys are inspected on a weekly basis and going forward, we will collect refuse from these on a minimum fortnightly basis with reactive orders as necessary in between to collect incidental litter from the travelling public. We are also going to install signage to encourage motorists to take litter home.
Hopefully the above explains the history of the existence of litter bins on the A69 Trunk Road and sets out or stance on litter collection following the change of Contract.
Kind Regards
National Highways
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