Streets to be deep cleaned as businesses get ready to reopen outdoors

In line with central government’s roadmap, non-essential retail will re-open on 12 April, including outdoor only hospitality.

We’ve been talking to businesses across the city as well as our partners at the Brighton Improvement District to find out what they feel would be most welcome in line with reopening, and overwhelmingly the feedback was for street-cleaning in some of our busiest streets and shopping areas.

In response, a proposal was agreed at the Policy & Resources Urgency Sub-Committee last week for extra funding of £120,000 for street cleaning that will be used in preparation for the reopening of non-essential retail, as well as later in the year.

Keeping Brighton & Hove tidy

To make sure it doesn’t affect daily running of businesses, the majority of this work will take place outside of trading hours, at night or in the early hours of the morning.

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

Work will start tonight with staff carrying out the cleaning from 9pm to 5am with four jet washing units and then supported by morning crews from 5am to 7am, with the daily recycling and refuse collections continuing as normal.

Our enforcement officers will also be out and about, helping to keep Brighton & Hove tidy and handing out fines if needed, as we are expecting the city to be busy as businesses start to reopen after an extended period of being closed during lockdown.

Be considerate of others

As the city starts to reopen, many might be anxious to be around people again so it is important to be considerate of others and give people enough space to feel safe and remember to follow the guidelines.

When out shopping or enjoying a drink with friends and family, please continue the practices we've learned during lockdown and give space, wear face coverings if you are able to and wash your hands for longer and more often.

As well as keeping a safe social distance within your own small groups, please be aware of other people and give space to them too.

Covid has not gone away and it's more important than ever to act safely and prevent the spread of infection so that we can return to a life without Covid restrictions in the future.

It is also important to remember to clean up after yourself as businesses start to reopen, as we all use public spaces and expect them to be busy.

So if you are taking food to our beaches or parks, please be prepared to take your rubbish home if you can’t find an empty bin - so that others can continue to enjoy the beautiful public spaces Brighton & Hove has to offer.

We have arranged for extra rounds of emptying bins and installed 70 additional large bins along the seafront so that there is extra storage for rubbish in between collections.

If you do spot a full bin, you can report it online so that we are aware that this bin needs to be collected.

How to get involved

If you want to get involved in keeping our city tidy, you can!

• 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: 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 help 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.