Hastings to get new street cleaning vehicles costing £500,000
Up to £500,000 will be spent on street cleaning vehicles in Hastings and St Leonards, says the borough council.
The money comes from the Pride in Place Impact Fund from the Government.
A council spokesperson said: “A new proactive jet washing programme and a dedicated high footfall ‘hit squad’ will provide regular pavement cleaning, litter removal and rapid response to fly-tipping and other issues.
“New electric lightweight waste collection carts will allow crews to empty bins more frequently and maintenance will also be strengthened including specialist chewing gum removal machinery, helping to improve the appearance and safety of our high streets.”
The council said it has also committed additional money to 'expand and strengthen street cleaning and maintenance teams'.
The authority added that the town’s volunteer network and the provision of community litter picking equipment will also be expanded, enabling more groups to take part in clean ups throughout the year.
Improvements will be delivered across Hastings’ high street areas including the town centre and seafront, Old Town, Central St Leonards, Ore Village and Silverhill, the council said.
Hastings MP Helena Dollimore said: “Hastings’ seafront should be the jewel in our town’s crown. Hundreds of residents came to my public meeting to show how strongly they felt about the need to clean up our seafront.
“Secretary of State Steve Reed was in attendance - and he has listened to everyone’s concerns. This £500k of funding from the Government will go a long way towards cleaning up our town and making Hastings an even better place to live.”
Cllr Glenn Haffenden, leader of Hastings Borough Council (HBC), said: “Cleaner, safer and more attractive streets are central to creating a town that people feel proud of. This investment gives our teams the tools and capacity they need to stay ahead of problems rather than react to them, and the shift to electric equipment reflects our commitment to more sustainable ways of working.
“I’m pleased that we have been able to agree additional HBC revenue budget to ensure these new vehicles are properly staffed, so we can deliver the level of service our residents expect across all our high streets.”
The new vehicles and equipment are expected to arrive by the end of the year.