More than 40 bags of rubbish were cleared when local schoolchildren teamed up with road workers during major upgrades at Junction 10 of the M6. The community clean-up saw pupils from County Bridge Primary School in Walsall joining forces with workers involved in a £78 million revamp of the busy motorway junction.
The Junction 10 project team, who are widening the roundabout from two lanes to four and replacing old motorway bridges, held an assembly at County Bridge Primary. Inspired by this, the school staff invited the workers to join a litter pick around the nearby Anson Road play area and woodland.
Volunteers from Highways England, Walsall Council, and contractor John Sisk & Son pitched in during their own time. Together with pupils, teachers, and local community members, they collected a staggering 42 bags of rubbish.
“We fully appreciate that road works, though necessary, can be disruptive for local people. We appreciate their patience and are keen to give something back to the community whenever possible,” said Highways England Project Manager David Reed. “Litter is an important issue and we are delighted to have helped clear 42 bags of rubbish from this community play area.”
Deputy Leader of Walsall Council, Councillor Adrian Andrew, added: “This is a great example of people coming together to make a difference in our communities. I’d like to thank the pupils of my old school, County Bridge Primary, and our partners for their time and enthusiasm.”
Headteacher Rabia Patel praised the joint effort: “It was great to bring the whole school community together to tackle the local litter issues and to get across the serious message that it’s everyone’s responsibility to keep our environment clean.”
The pupils worked closely with parents, police, fire services, and council officials, while also inviting Highways England and John Sisk contractors to support the litter pick. The campaign hopes to inspire ongoing community pride and responsibility, reducing litter and protecting local wildlife and safety.
Highways England clears around 200,000 bags of litter from its roads every year. Besides being an eyesore, litter poses serious safety risks and threatens wildlife and the environment. This Junction 10 clean-up shows how teamwork from schools, workers, and councils can make a real difference on and off the road.
Originally published by UKNIP.
