Sir – Rosamund Weatherall (Letters, December 10) is right to say that littering from vehicles is not acceptable and I can assure her that in Cherwell we put significant resources into keeping verges and lay-bys clean. We have dedicated staff who spend much of their time on clearing laybys and verges. Our verges are much cleaner than they used to be but because people thoughtlessly discard litter from vehicles it is a never-ending job.

Earlier this year Cherwell targeted drivers on the A41. The council installed 12 combined waste and recycling bins in lay-bys on the dual carriageway between the M40 and Bicester, giving anyone taking a break while travelling the cross-county route an opportunity to dispose of their rubbish. It’s led to a cleaner, tidier stretch of road.

Multi-purpose bins allow drivers to dispose of recyclable paper, plastic bottles and cans as well as non-recyclable rubbish. The scheme has built on the success of a pilot project on the Cherwell section of the A34, and on Cherwell’s well-used Kidlington commuter recycling bins. Cherwell also hands out “Bag it and Bin it” bags to users of the A34 laybys on a weekly basis. These are supplied by the Highways Agency and we find them to be well received by drivers who use them to take rubbish home.

And Cherwell District Council takes a strong stand on combatting flytipping. We will prosecute fly-tippers and those who drop litter where we have sufficient evidence of the culprits. In the winter months, when vegetation dies back and reveals more litter, we put more resources into clearing verges. We have four people who clear verges on A, B and minor roads from December to the end of March. Our verges are clean, but keeping them that way is akin to painting the Forth Bridge.

George Reynolds, Cherwell District Council portfolio holder for environment, recreation and health