Abandoned roadwork signs 'are an epidemic'

6 February 2025

John DevineBBC News, Cambridgeshire

News image — Mark Fishpool says he has found thousands of discarded sandbags, bollards and other traffic management equipment while clearing verges

John Devine/BBC Mark Fishpool, 68, has grey hair hair around his ears, he is wearing a black beany hat with a high-viz orange jacket. Behind him are a selection of old road signs, stands for them, bollards, sandbags and safety lamps. — Mark Fishpool says he has found thousands of discarded sandbags, bollards and other traffic management equipment while clearing verges

A litter picker says the volume of discarded traffic signs, bollards and sandbags he finds by the roadside has reached "epidemic" levels.

Mark Fishpool, 68, set up the Pride in Peterborough Community Association two years ago in a bid to tidy up areas of the city where he grew up.

He says traffic management contractors are not collecting equipment routinely after roadworks and highway maintenance.

A spokesperson for National Highways, which is responsible for litter collection on motorways and some trunk roads, said: "We make every effort to keep the strategic road network clean and tidy."

Peterborough City Council said it was aware of the problem and was working with partners to get the equipment removed.

John Devine/BBC A selection of items found by Mr Fishpool in hedges and verges around Peterborough including traffic management signs, orange and white bollards, sandbags and safety lamps which fit on bollards and flash an orange light. — Mr Fishpool says thousands of pounds is being wasted with old road signs and related items just being "chucked in the hedges and verges"

"Peterborough City Council and National Highways contract traffic management companies to put signs, bollards and safety lamps out when there are diversions or roadworks," said Mr Fishpool.

He said it was a form of fly-tipping when the companies who set equipment up then left it behind at the roadside.

Mr Fishpool said he believed the cost of the equipment alone was substantial.

Mark Fishpool A discarded 'workforce in the road' sign, red background, rectangular shape with white writing, it was found discarded upside down on a verge by the roadside, — Mr Fishpool says he is contact with other litter picking groups across the UK and says it could be a nationwide issue that is costing "millions of pounds"

"I reckon one traffic cone would cost around £15," he said.

The frames that hold the traffic signs could cost around £40 to £80 each and the signs themselves could be anything up to £120 each, he reckoned.

"I am in contact with other littler-picking groups across the country and they all report the same thing – lots and lots of dumped road signs and related items. It must cost millions."

National Highways said "A frames" were sometimes left ready on common diversion routes, "as this is a more efficient and cost-effective approach than collecting and returning them each time".

A spokesperson said: "We make every effort to keep the strategic road network clean and tidy and undertake weekly safety inspections as well as acting on requests and information from our customers.

"Work is ongoing with our contractors to ensure any redundant traffic management equipment is removed from our network and we are grateful to the public for contacting us when this has not taken place."

John Devine/BBC An orange and white traffic cone with a yellow safety flash lamp on top, around it are various road signs and sandbags, all found by Mr Fishpool on the verges and hedges along Peterborough's roadways. — Mr Fishpool says he has found "hundreds and hundreds" of old batteries used in highway maintenance safety flash lights thrown in verges beside Peterborough's roads

A spokesperson for Peterborough City Council said: "We are aware of these incidents and are working with partners including Milestone and National Highways to get the dumped signs removed."

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