by Alex Claridge

Enough furniture and household equipment to kit out a house has been dumped on major roads in east Kent over the last year, according to information released by road chiefs.

Rugs, fridges, deckchairs, carpeting, mattresses and an armchair are among the items deposited on motorways and A-roads near Canterbury.

The Highways Agency keeps a log of calls made to it by motorists who have spotted something of concern on the roads.

Typical entries include a washing machine left half in lane one of the A2 London-bound carriageway just before the Bridge turn-off. Another call to the agency reported that four fridges were on the A2 near Canterbury.

Although the Highways Agency notes the reports, cleaning most A-roads is the responsibility of local authorities such as Canterbury City Council or Swale Borough Council.

But the agency removes litter and debris from motorways. In the last year, it collected 22,353 bags of rubbish in from roadsides in Kent alone, although a significant number were collected from the Kent section of the M25.

Derek Turner, Highways Agency’s director of network operations, said: “Clearing litter puts our road workers at risk from injury and diverts resources away from road maintenance and repairs. Items thrown from vehicles can a hazard to other road users.

“Litter is unsightly, is bad for the environment and can block drains and lead to localised flooding."

Other items spotted on major county roads include jackets, bicycles, fences, bags of clothes, a football, a fire extinguisher, car parts and bits of indeterminate debris.

Meanwhile, badgers are by far the most commonly killed animals, closely followed by foxes.
But dog, stag, swan, cat and peacock carcasses have also been seen on the road.

One person even rang the Highways Agency to report an eagle strutting about on the carriageway of the M20.