Over four nights in March, Colchester City Council carried out a large-scale overnight clean-up of the A12, with seven council officers working to remove litter and debris along a stretch of the busy road. The work covered the Ipswich-bound carriageway from junction 26 to junction 29 and the London-bound carriageway from junction 29 back to junction 26. We planned the clean-up overnight to reduce disruption to drivers and to ensure the safety of both road users and our teams.
What was cleared
Across the four nights, the Street Care and Safety team removed 3.7 tonnes of waste from the roadside. This included 19 tyres, 13 abandoned road signs and three fly-tips. A mechanical road sweeper also supported the operation, clearing around 10 tonnes of material from the carriageway, totalling nearly 14 tonnes – around the same weight as 10 family cars!
How this benefits residents and road users
Keeping roads like the A12 clean and clear helps make journeys safer for everyone. Removing large items and litter reduces the risk of accidents, prevents damage to vehicles and improves visibility along the road. It also means a cleaner environment, reduced visual impact and fewer issues such as blocked drainage caused by build-up of waste.
Why the council carries out work like this
At Colchester City Council, we carry out proactive clean-ups on major roads in our catchment areas to prevent problems from escalating and to protect both the environment and public safety. Acting early helps reduce long-term costs, discourages further fly-tipping and makes sure our road network continues to function well for residents, commuters and businesses. We will continue to make the most of planned road closures to clean and maintain our sections of the A12 whenever possible.
Cllr Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Neighbourhoods and Leisure, said: “I know people expect the roads they use every day to be safe, clean and well looked after, and this work goes a long way towards making that happen. It might not always be visible while it’s taking place, but clearing litter and dumped items from major routes like the A12 really does make a difference for residents and everyone travelling through the area.”
“I want to thank our street care teams who carried out this hard work overnight to keep disruption to a minimum. Their effort and commitment play a vital role in looking after our shared spaces and taking pride in Colchester.”
Working together to keep Colchester clean
This clean-up is part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining safe, clean and welcoming spaces in Colchester. If you'd like to get involved in litter picking, you’re invited to join the growing team of over 1,000 Litter Warriors committed to picking litter in their local communities on a regular basis – contact community.volunteers@colchester.gov.uk
Fly-tipping and littering affects us all, and reporting issues helps us target our work where it’s needed most. Residents are also encouraged to report fly-tipping and other environmental issues through the council’s website.