Our cleaning standards are in line with the Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse.
The sweeping team check all roads and footpaths managed by the council 4 times a year. Only areas that are below standard and need sweeping are cleaned. This means our team are not cleaning areas that don’t need cleaning and can focus on areas where they are needed most.
We are unable to publish a schedule or route plan. Factors such as weather, machinery breakdown, staff levels and emergency work can all cause changes to the programme.
Our sweeper fleet consists of different sized road sweepers. This is so we have sweepers to suit main roads, minor roads, housing areas and footpaths.
If you see a sweeper leave an area before it has finished, it may need to off load the sweepings and return. It may also be because a smaller sweeper is needed before sweeping can resume.
Where areas need cleaning but are inaccessible, for example where cars are parked, the team will attempt to return while they are still in the area. Unfortunately, if the area remains obstructed, sweeping cannot be completed.
You can report a sweeping issue if there are problems in your street. For example, when there is a build-up of dirt, debris or leaves.
Gravel or mud on the road can be caused by work from a building development, utility company, farmland or private property. They are responsible to clear this debris.
The council does not provide extra sweeping services for this.
If you are concerned about safety relating to mud on the road caused by a third party, please report for enforcement.
Report mud on the road caused by third party
Autumn leaves
From mid October to late December our street cleansing contractor works hard to clear the huge quantity of leaves that have fallen from the many trees across the borough.
If you have concerns about safety on your road because of wet leaves then please report this to us.
You can help by:
- taking extra care when walking or driving on wet leafy surfaces
- being patient - we have limited resources and cannot clear all areas at once, especially if there has been extra leaf fall due to windy weather
- not sweeping leaves into the road as this slows down our street cleaning operation - if you sweep leaves into the road after we have swept your street we won’t be able to return to your road again until your next scheduled visit
- composting leaves from your own garden in a home composter
- using the garden waste collection service
- make leaf mould – to find out how visit recycle now or get composting
Weeds growing in streets
The council’s contractor routinely clears weeds growing on council owned streets, pavements and shopping areas as required.
They use approved weed treatments or remove them manually.