05/07/04 - A new pilot scheme which could lead to a totally new approach to street cleaning in Darlington is set to start today in the Bank Top area of the Town.
Darlington Borough Council is looking at the idea of introducing a new zonal cleansing system for the town. In this new approach the Borough would be divided into five zones. Each zone will have a team with a team leader. This team will be responsible for their area in respect to the full programme of street cleaning, littering issues, emptying litter bins, as well as tackling scenes of "Enviro-crime hotspots" such as graffiti and fly-tipping.
The aim of the new zonal system is to introduce more flexibility into the way in which the streets and open spaces of the Town are managed and cleaned. The teams in each zone will get to know their area well which in turn will generate increased ownership and responsibility for their "patch". In time it is hoped that local residents will get to know their local team and may come forward with ideas and reports on where any problems may be in their area. If the team cannot deal with any problems reported to them directly, they can contact the relevant department at The Council on behalf of the resident concerned.
As part of the four week pilot scheme, a full pre-scheme assessment has been undertaken in the Bank Top area, residents will be informed with a leaflet detailing the new arrangements and giving them the contact name and number of their new team leader, Roger Harsley. Working with members of the Bank Top Residents' Association, the Council will gather feedback on how the new system has worked and how it could be changed or improved before any further decisions are made.
Talking about the new approach, the Leader of Darlington Borough Council Councillor John Williams, said:
"The Council is fully committed to making Darlington a more pleasant place to live. We have already started a number of anti-litter and other cleaning initiatives. This new zonal cleaning system aims to make our streets, parks and open spaces even cleaner."
Councillor McEwan, the Council's Cabinet Member for Public Protection added:
"Here at the Council we are always looking at our systems and how we work in order to strive for continual improvement in our delivery of services. We are committed to making our streets cleaner and safer. If adopted, this new approach is expected to provide a more modern and flexible service that can react quickly to the needs of residents. If successful the new scheme will aim to provide an overall improvement in satisfaction levels and in the cleanliness of our streets."