National Highways’ Performance Specification includes a Performance Indicator for litter. This metric monitors the cleanliness of the Strategic Road Network and is the percentage of the Strategic Road Network where litter is graded at A or B as defined in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Code of practice on Litter and Refuse. National Highways performance indicator score for 2023-24 is 59.2% of the Network is graded at A or B.

National Highways is monitored against its Performance Specification by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). The ORR report annually to Parliament and the public on National Highways’ performance, including litter. If the ORR deem that National Highways is not complying with its statutory directions or complying with the requirements of the Road Investment Strategy, they may determine enforcement action to be appropriate.

National Highways undertakes weekly safety inspections on the M60 and M67. Although litter is not the primary purpose, it is taken into consideration as part of these inspections, and any concerns are recorded.

National Highways’ most recent inspection of the M67 and M60 in Denton took place on 20 March 2025.

The inspection identified the condition of the litter at various locations along these routes as Grade C, as defined in the Defra Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse (Code of practice on litter and refuse). National Highways is currently making arrangements for this litter to be removed.

National Highways undertakes inspections of the Strategic Road Network in line with the DMRB GS801 Asset Delivery Asset Inspections Requirements standard and the inspectors survey and grade the Strategic Road Network in accordance with The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Code of Practice for Litter and Refuse.

The Office for Road and Rail (ORR), as Highways Monitor, also plays an important role in monitoring National Highways’ litter clearance on behalf of the Secretary of State and holding National Highways to account for its licence commitments. The ORR report annually to Parliament and the public on National Highways’ performance, including litter. If the ORR deem that National Highways is not complying with its statutory directions or complying with the requirements of the Road Investment Strategy, they may determine enforcement action to be appropriate.

National Highways undertakes weekly safety inspections on the M60 and M67, litter is identified and reported on in accordance with the Defra Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse.

National Highways programme of cyclic maintenance involves litter collections on the M60 and the M67 annually. In addition to those routine litter picks, National Highways will arrange for reactive litter picking where any section of the Strategic Road Network has been identified as reaching Grade C or D according to the Code. In these cases, litter picking is carried out within 28 and 7 days respectively, depending on the grading recorded and any road space or traffic management constraints.

I am committed to tackling the amount of litter deposited on our roads and I agree that there is more we can all do to keep the Strategic Road Network, roads and streets clear of litter, therefore I would be happy to meet with the honourable Member for Denton and Reddish to discuss how we can best tackle litter on the roads in his constituency.

National Highways will be happy meet the honourable Member for Denton and Reddish to discuss litter on the Strategic Roads in his constituency.

The decision on whether to mark historic county boundaries on road signs is for each local highway authority, or, in the case of the Strategic Road Network, for Highways England, to consider. Highways England has no plans to install any such signs.

Pursuant to the answer to Question 60714, Highways England intends to commence survey work on the bridge between July and December 2020. Enabling works, including opening the closed section of St Anne’s Road to allow implementation of the diversion route, are intended to start in April 2021. Highways England will start main demolition and construction work in October 2021, with construction lasting for two years. It has no further update on the proposed works at this time.

The Secretary of State for Transport has had no such discussions with Highways England on removing litter at Junction 2 on-slip road to the M67 in Denton.

Highways England have confirmed that any restoration measures are required to take place within the timescales set out in the Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse. This states that any areas with special circumstances that falls below grade B, such as carriageways, verges and central reservations of motorways and trunk roads, must be restored back to grade A standard within twenty-eight days or as soon as reasonably practicable. Highways England expect to remove litter from the entry slip road within the next three weeks.

The timing of the delivery of the project is subject to a number of factors involving other parties. Highways England intends to commence survey work between July and December 2020.

Enabling works, including opening the closed section of St Anne’s Road to allow implementation of the diversion route, are intended to start in April 2021.

The aim is to start the main demolition and construction work in October 2021, with construction lasting for two years.

There was a fault in the lighting mechanism along the M67 Motorway. To ensure that the lighting was fully operational overnight, Highways England has attended to the lighting mechanism and temporarily bypassed the defective component. As a result, the lighting columns were temporarily lit both during the day and night. Highways England returned the lighting to its correct hours of operation on 15 February 2016.

My Department will liaise with Highways England in relation to its arrangements for clearing litter and flytipped rubbish from the M60 and M67 Motorways in the vicinity of, and at, the intersection. The discussions will also include the condition of the lighting along the M67 and the M60 near the River Tame. I would expect that Highways England officials write to you directly to ensure that this matter can be dealt with as soon as possible.

The Highways Agency is, as of 10 March 2015, on site undertaking an inspection of all areas of the M67, including the slip-roads, central reservations and embankments. This assessment applies a grading for both litter and refuse in accordance with a Code of Practice, which supplements the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and specifies standards of cleanliness and response times. Nevertheless, I regard these standards as a baseline above and beyond which we should aim.

Any restoration measures are required to take place within timescales set out in the Code of Practice. It specifies fourteen days for slip-road carriageways, their hard-shoulders, verges and embankments. It specifies twenty-eight days (or as soon as is reasonably practicable) for mainline carriageways, their central reservations, hard-shoulders, verges and embankments. I have asked the Highways Agency to ensure that it meets its obligations for removing litter, in accordance with the results of the ongoing assessment of all areas of the M67 and, as noted in my answer to 226747, report to me accordingly. When they have done so I will ensure that a copy of the report is forwarded to the honourable gentleman.

The Highways Agency is, as of 10 March 2015, on site undertaking an inspection of all areas of the M67, including the embankments. This assessment applies a grading for both litter and refuse in accordance with a Code of Practice, which supplements the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and specifies standards of cleanliness and response times. Nevertheless, I regard these standards as a baseline above and beyond which we should aim.

Any restoration measures are required to take place within timescales set out in the Code of Practice. It specifies fourteen days for slip-road carriageways, their hard-shoulders, verges and embankments. It specifies twenty-eight days (or as soon as is reasonably practicable) for mainline carriageways, their central reservations, hard-shoulders, verges and embankments. I have asked the Highways Agency to ensure that it meets its obligations for removing litter and fly-tipped waste, in accordance with the results of the ongoing assessment of all areas of the M67 and to report to me accordingly. When they have done so I will ensure that a copy of the report is forwarded to the honourable gentleman.

An inspection is currently ongoing with the condition of all areas of the motorway, including the embankments, being assessed. This assessment will apply a grading for both litter and refuse found in accordance with the Code of Practice which supplements the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and which specifies standards of cleanliness and response times.

Any restoration measures are required to take place within timescales that accord with the Code of Practice. It specifies 14 days for slip road carriageways, their hard shoulders, verges and embankments. It specifies 28 days (or as soon as is reasonably practicable) for main line carriageways, their central reserves, hard shoulders, verges and embankments.

This scheme is now substantially complete in that all road layout changes are in place with the associated benefits for drivers now realised. Landscaping works around the junction will be undertaken later this month.

During the course of the works there has been a constant assessment of progress by means of weekly collaboration and planning meetings held between the Highways Agency and its maintenance contractor’s project delivery team.

The recent litter inspections of the embankments did not find any fly tipping. The subsequent inspection is currently ongoing with the condition of all areas of the motorway, including the embankments, being assessed. This assessment applies a grading for both litter and refuse in accordance with a Code of Practice, which supplements the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and which specifies standards of cleanliness and response times.

Any restoration measures are required to take place within timescales that accord with the Code of Practice. It specifies 14 days for slip road carriageways, their hard shoulders, verges and embankments. It specifies 28 days (or as soon as is reasonably practicable) for main line carriageways, their central reserves, hard shoulders, verges and embankments.

The slip roads and main carriageway of the M67 Motorway at Denton were last inspected on 28 February and 1 March, respectively. These inspections included an assessment of the embankments, where no evidence of fly tipping was found.

I have taken a keen interest in this matter and believe more should be done.

The Highways Agency is required by the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to ensure that motorways and a small number of trunk roads in England are, so far as is practicable, kept clear of litter and refuse. The Act is supplemented by a Code of Practice which specifies standards of cleanliness and response times.

A dedicated litter inspection is undertaken on the M67 at the beginning of each month which assesses the condition of the motorway and applies a grading for both litter and detritus in accordance with the Code of Practice.

Any required restoration measures take place within the required timescales, in accordance with the Code of Practice – 14 days for slip road carriageways, hard shoulders and verges and 28 days (or as soon as is reasonably practicable) for the main line carriageway, central reserve, hard shoulders and verges.

However, I intend to discuss with the Highways Agency what further steps could be taken to reduce litter on the Strategic Road Network.

I have taken a keen interest in this matter and believe more should be done.

The Highways Agency is required by the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to ensure that motorways and a small number of trunk roads in England are, so far as is practicable, kept clear of litter and refuse. The Act is supplemented by a Code of Practice which specifies standards of cleanliness and response times.

A dedicated litter inspection is undertaken on the M67 at the beginning of each month which assesses the condition of the motorway and applies a grading for both litter and detritus in accordance with the Code of Practice.

Any required restoration measures take place within the required timescales, in accordance with the Code of Practice – 14 days for slip road carriageways, hard shoulders and verges and 28 days (or as soon as is reasonably practicable) for the main line carriageway, central reserve, hard shoulders and verges.

However, I intend to discuss with the Highways Agency what further steps could be taken to reduce litter on the Strategic Road Network.