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Lay-by on B2046 near Womenswold being used as toilet by drivers

By: Jack Dyson jdyson@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 06:00, 24 February 2020

Excrement and bottles filled with urine have been found at a "disgusting" lay-by, sparking calls for the eyesore to be cleaned.

The waste has been discovered at a rutted patch of turf off the B2046 Adisham Road, near Womenswold, where lorry and car drivers stop for breaks.

Bottles of urine at the roadside

Nailbourne councillor Mike Sole says the level of littering at the plot has increased over the last year, as it has "become a magnet for fly-tipping".

"The lay-by is badly rutted with potholes so you wouldn’t want to park a car on 90% of it, and the lorry drivers are using it as a toilet," he said.

"If you step off the lay-by into the trees behind, it's full of rubbish – it's disgusting.

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"Much of the waste in the bushes is human excrement and bottles of urine; it is an absolute disgrace.

"It has become a magnet for fly-tipping. There are still a couple of fridge-freezers there."

Cllr Mike Sole at the lay-by, where fridge-freezers have been dumped

Kent County Council and Highways England maintain neither of them owns the lay-by.

KentOnline understands it is privately-owned land.

However, Cllr Sole is calling for it to be repaired, fitted with a bin and better maintained, to make it easier for cars to park.

"The city council at the moment are picking up the bill for tidying it up, which normally on private land wouldn't happen," he explained.

"I think that's what most residents want. Most of the people I've spoken to don't want it closed off; they realise there's a need.

Land off the B2046 Adisham Road where lorry and car drivers stop for breaks

"We've got to accept that until the county council and local authority sort out a proper lorry park somewhere, lorries are going to park on a lay-by like that."

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The Lib Dem fears shutting it could reduce the number of lorry spaces and lead to further issues around the villages.

City council spokesman Rob Davies says the authority is in discussions with highways bosses to try to resolve the problem, adding: "Serco have cleaned it on a number of occasions, but it is an unofficial lay-by next to a busy and fast road which makes accessing it safely quite difficult.

"Discussions are continuing with Highways England and Kent County Council on how the problems can be resolved and we are keeping Cllr Sole updated on progress."

Read more: All the latest news from Canterbury

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