A frustrated villager has cleared rubbish strewn across a lay-by by selfish louts as confusion continues over who owns the site.

Canterbury City Council says the roadside area on the B2046 near Barham cannot currently be cleaned due to safety issues.

Man fills 60 bags with rubbish at the Barham lay-by (Credit: Ray Williams)

Residents have been left disgusted by the state of the lay-by, which is also home to an abandoned burnt-out lorry that has been left there for several weeks.

Locals previously compared the “eyesore” site to a scene “from a third world country”.

Cleaning the area is the responsibility of Canterbury City Council, but the authority says it cannot be closed to vehicles because it is an “unofficial lay-by”, meaning the safety of crews cannot be guaranteed.

There is also confusion over whether Kent County Council (KCC) or Highways England owns the land.

When lockdown restrictions have been eased during the pandemic, catering units have pitched-up at the lay-by.

Aylesham resident, Ray Williams, 48, is frustrated by the situation and has spent time clearing rubbish, filling more than 60 sacks over the Easter weekend alone.

“The other day, I got up early and cleaned up what I could,” he said.

“I hadn’t expected it to be as bad as what it was with the burnt-out lorry down there.”

He said it has long been a “dumping ground” and is not pleasant to see when passing.

“People are filling the back of the lorry with rubbish,” he added.

“There are bags of carpet and waste in there.” A city council spokesman says the relevant notices have been served on the burnt-out lorry and “its removal is imminent”.

He said land ownership of the lay-by is unclear and the council is working with KCC and Highways England to resolve it.

“Once ownership is established, the owner can either make arrangements to close it so that we can go in and clean it, or turn it into a formal lay-by, at which point we would be happy to install a litter bin and add it to the regular cleaning schedule,” he added.

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