BOROUGH chiefs have pledged to clear a fly-tipping hotspot once a year – after it wasn’t cleaned once in 2016.

In February volunteers from the Wilmslow Clean Team challenged Ansa, Cheshire East Council’s waste management arm, to clear rubbish on the A34 between Dean Row and Handforth Dean after it emerged the road hadn’t been cleared once last year.

A scheduled cleaning of the road was then brought forward from June to March, and now Ansa has provided a commitment towards keeping the road clean in future.

A spokesman for Cheshire East Council told the Guardian: “The A34 Alderley Edge – Handforth Dean bypass is an extremely busy highway and only teams from the council’s environmental services company Ansa would be permitted to carry out roadside and grass verge cleansing.

“Also, this can only be carried out within traffic management zones for health and safety reasons, owing to the need to protect the workforce carrying out the litter clearing operation.

“Ansa aims to conduct litter clearing operations on the A34 once a year.”

Wilmslow Clean Team has previously offered its own services to clear some of the litter by the stretch of road, but Ansa confirmed it must close the A34 before any cleaning can take place.

The CEC spokesman added: “We appreciate the offer by the Wilmslow Clean Team but regret that this is something we could not support.”

Ansa removed dozens of bags filled with litter as it cleaned the A34 last month, although it hadn’t been able to clear as much of the road is it wanted due to roadworks for the forthcoming SEMMS road.

Christopher Evans, chairman of the Wilmslow Clean Team, previously called for Ansa to clean the road at least once a year, but member Sally Hoare has been left feeling underwhelmed by CEC’s commitment.

“I have to say that once a year, albeit an increase, is a pretty disappointing aim,” she told the Guardian.

“As a team we litter pick Altrincham Road at least four times a year and still cannot keep up with the litter from cars.

“Maybe we could ask whether CEC has any plans to police the litter problem on main roads.”

Fellow Clean Team member Stuart Redgard added: “It is good to hear that CEC aim to clean the A34 once a year, but this is the minimum we would have hoped for.”