Derby City Council has announced the positive impact of new specialist street cleaning machinery that was introduced this year.
To support the council’s weed control and street cleaning services, an investment of £155,000 was delivered to support the procurement of additional resources for the department.
It allowed for the rollout of a ‘dedicated targeted weed clearance team’ in May this year, as well as the delivery of additional machinery, which has been effective in eliminating weeds, soil, and debris from kerbs.
The three-person team specialise in accessing restricted areas that are difficult to reach using standard machinery, such as the service’s existing quad bikes and mechanical sweepers.
To overcome these challenges, staff have been moving obstructions and hand-spraying certain areas. They have also been using a further footway sweeper and an all-terrain quad bike to boost the efficiency of operations.
According to the council, the changes are helping the team to enhance the appearance and accessibility of pavements to support wheelchair users, mobility scooters, and parents with pushchairs.
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Cllr Ndukwe Onuoha, Cabinet Member for Streetpride, Parks and Leisure, said: ‘Keeping our streets clean and looking their best is important to all of us in Derby, and this additional team is making a real difference by allowing us to take a more targeted approach in areas that can be challenging to reach.’
He added: ‘This investment gives our teams the extra people and equipment they need to work more efficiently and improve more of Derby’s residential streets. It is a great example of how investing in our frontline services can make a visible difference to the city.’
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Photo: © Derby City Council.
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