More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A businessman, who - frustrated with the amount of litter on the roads - organised his own clean-up campaign, is on a collision course with Kent County Council.
Danny Lucas, who owns Lucas UK Group on the Invicta Business Park off London Road, Wrotham, has spent years campaigning against litter.
But his latest venture has upset KCC, the highways authority, which has threatened legal action against him.
It comes after Mr Lucas launched his Adopt A Zone Scheme two months ago.
Despairing of ever persuading the local authorities to do a proper job, he sought instead to persuade businesses to adopt a section of road to keep free and tidy.
Leading by example, Mr Lucas and volunteers from his own firm cleared the London Road in Wrotham between the M20 roundabout and the M26 roundabout.
Not only did they pick up litter, but they washed down bollards and traffic signs, and removed years of accumulated dirt and weeds around traffic islands.
Mr Lucas has also erected signs announcing the area as an "adopted zone."
Now KCC has written to Mr Lucas advising him that he has breeched Section 132 of the Highways Act 1980 and telling him he has 14 days to take the signs down - or risk legal action.
Mr Lucas said: "I am not taking the signs down, and if they do, I will replace them.
"They are there for a reason.
"I am trying to get more firms to sign up to the Adopt A Zone scheme, and they are the advertising for it."
Mr Lucas said that 10 other companies from across Kent had shown an interest, including some big name firms like Gallaghers, Jenner Construction and Red Key Concepts.
Mr Lucas is holding a conference later this month with the interested companies to explain what is involved and what equipment might be required.
The British Irish Trading Alliance is also seeking to persuade its members to adopt the scheme, as a legacy project following its own annual clean up.
Mr Lucas said: "Perhaps KCC thinks I am being a bit maverick or rebellious, but I am only trying to make the environment better for everyone.
"What we have done has received a lot of positive feedback on Nextdoor and other social media outlets."
Mr Lucas said: "It is very strange that KCC chooses to enforce this particular rule when it is ignoring so many itself."
Mr Lucas has also received the full backing of Cllr Harry Rayner (Con), the county councillor for Wrotham.
Cllr Rayner said: "Mr Lucas and his team have done a fantastic job. I'm very appreciative of his efforts - he is to be applauded.
"He has stepped into the breach."
Cllr Rayner added: "I understand where the highways officer is coming from. He's looking at it from a strictly legal view. His case is that the signs are in an dangerous and inappropriate position.
"But I feel there should surely be a case for some form of compromise here."
A Kent County Council spokesperson said: "We are responsible for making sure any signs placed on the road are appropriate and conform to the relevant regulations.
"In this case the signs we have asked to be removed do not meet the standards and as such are not authorised.
"These strict national standards ensure signs do not distract or inhibit drivers and go on to cause a safety hazard."
He said: "KCC recognises and welcomes communities taking responsibility for the areas they live and work in, while offering advice on how to do this safely.
"People with concerns about litter should report them to their district or borough councils.
"Reports of weeds can be reported via our online fault reporting at www.kent.gov.uk."
