Council calls on everyone to help Keep Brighton & Hove Tidy

We're launching a campaign to Keep Brighton & Hove Tidy, starting with a cleaning blitz on some of the city centre’s dirtiest streets and pavements.

A team of Cityclean staff will use high pressure hoses to jet wash bins, street furniture, lamp posts and pavements, and paint out ugly graffiti tags on council owned property along Queens Road, North Street and West Street. 

Staff will carry out the cleaning from 5am until the streets get busy and then again from 9pm to 5am, with the daily recycling and refuse collections continuing as normal.

Our enforcement officers will be out helping with the tidy up and also handing out fines if needed. 

We're not responsible for tagging on private property

Although we’re not responsible for removing graffiti or tagging from private property, we will do so if it’s offensive.

The four day clean up, from Monday 14 to Friday 18 September, kicks off the council’s new campaign, and also ties in with this year’s national Keep Britain Tidy event which runs from 11 – 27 of the month.

As part of our campaign we’re asking communities across our city to consider joining the clean-up effort – including residents, businesses, volunteers, council staff, councillors, tidy up teams, beach cleaners and students.

Any clean ups can be done within the new government limit of six people meeting outdoors.

We'd like everyone to get involved

• Volunteers: Anyone can volunteer to help with our clean up. We’ll provide the equipment including litter pickers and gloves for rubbish, and paint and brushes for graffiti removal. Please use your own face masks. Email communitycleanup@brighton-hove.gov.uk.
• Businesses: Council leader Phélim Mac Cafferty has written to businesses setting out the council’s plans and asking for support where practicable. There are a number of ways businesses can help, ie, by cleaning outside their premises, removing graffiti from their building and allowing staff to get involved – and the council is able to provide assistance.
• Council staff: Are also encouraged to be part of the tidy up and can join in beach cleans or assist in painting out graffiti on council bins or property. This can be done through the council’s Employee Volunteering Scheme and services won’t be affected.
• Tidy up teams: We already have fantastic tidy-up teams who will continue doing the great work they do by cleaning and tidying our parks and open spaces.
• Beach cleaners: Continuing the great work they do, from organisations like Surfers Against Sewage to groups and individuals. 
• Students: Organise park or beach cleans; remove graffiti, tidy up the streets outside where you live.
• Schools: Organise beach and park cleans as part of the curriculum.

'It's the perfect time'

Councillor Mac Cafferty said: “Everyone can play their part in keeping our city tidy, and a perfect time to get involved is during Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British September Clean.

“On top of doing our normal, everyday Cityclean refuse and recycling collections, we’ll be leading the way by carrying out four days and nights of cleaning in the city centre.

“But the council alone cannot keep the city tidy. For instance, we’re not responsible for removing graffiti from private property unless it’s offensive. This includes shop fronts and things like street furniture for broadband.

“That’s why I’m calling on everyone to take part whether you’re a business, resident, student or work for the council.”

Many activities already planned 

There are already a number of residents, community groups, the local Tourism Alliance and Surfers Against Sewage who have confirmed they will be organising cleaning activities in their neighbourhoods, on the beach or in the city centre.

Anyone who carries out a tidy up, or contributes in any way, is being encouraged to post information on our Twitter and Facebook accounts, or at #LoveOurCity, with images and telling us how you got involved, and we’ll retweet and repost with a huge thank you.

'I want the city to be successful and confident'

Councillor Mac Cafferty added: “We all have a responsibility to keep our city tidy, especially as we take the important steps to recovery from the pandemic. 

“I want Brighton & Hove to be successful and confident, and cleaning up our city is an essential part of that.”

Anne Ackord, Chair of the Brighton & Hove Tourism Alliance, said: “The alliance places the highest importance on keeping the city clean and providing a well presented, welcoming environment for those who live here and those who visit. 

“As such our members will be actively engaged in making our city look as good as it should.

'You can help prevent damage to our marine life'

Stuart Davies, of the local Surfers Against Sewage organisation, said: "Taking part in a beach or city clean is one of the most effective ways you can help prevent damage to our marine and urban environment from waste that ends up there. 

“It’s all of our responsibility to ensure our most natural precious assets are looked after. Some of us do more, and we are happy to do so, we hope to see you at the cleans happening across the city for this initiative."