A LOCAL authority says it will explore options to clear rubbish beside a trunk road dubbed the "corridor of shame" after being accused of overlooking it for 15 years and an agreed initiative to clean up the area's verges.

Richmondshire District Council's long-serving chief executive Tony Clark told a full meeting of the authority while one stretch of the A66 had been cleansed last year, safety concerns had previously impeded action on other areas of the major A1(M) to M6 route in North Yorkshire.

Read more: Tributes pour in after ‘tragic’ and sudden death of well-known County Durham vet

Mr Clark was responding after Councillor Angus Thompson related how residents had dubbed a stretch of the single carriageway of the A66, near Browson Bank and the junction for Dalton, "the corrdior of shame" as it reflected badly on both the local authority and Rishi Sunak's Richmond constituency.

Coun Thompson told the meeting if the most littered 100-metre section was cleaned this year "at least the present administration would be seen to be making some progress to fulfilling their obligation".

The call comes a month after a North Yorkshire County Council meeting heard the concerns were widespread and a Newsham parish councillor saying he had no confidence senior council officers were determined to make an immediate difference.

Coun Thompson added: "Richmondshire District Council has a statutory obligation to cleanse single carriageway sections but freely admit that certain stretches have not been cleansed robustly for some 15 years.

"Whilst it pains me to say so, the section of the A66 within County Durham is much cleaner in contrast to the disgraceful levels of litter which Richmondshire council has allowed to accumulate. "

The authority's deputy leader, Councillor Helen Grant, replied that she was "very happy to support" what Coun Thompson had said.

The meeting also heard the complaints had surfaced about three years after authority agreed to lead a "tidy up Richmondshire" initiative, where the council would "target all the verges that we could", using parish council and national park volunteers.

Read more: Hotel owner to get rid of bizarre 'canoe man' branding after ITV series on John Darwin

Councillor Stuart Parsons said the council had got as far as buying equipment for the tidy-up drive, but it had not been used due to the pandemic.

He said: "It would be helpful if you could get that full initiative up and running. It's not just ourselves, it's also our residents and parishes which will get to work and help clear their areas and at least leave us in a cleaner position to monitor and actually take action."

Mr Clarke said the reason the litter had not been cleared was "not down to a lack of willingness".

He said: "I believe there has been some issues over health and safety. Historically it has required a road closure to do the picking. Whether there's ways round that is something that we will continue to explore."

------

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated North Yorkshire Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054