Council Invests £1.2million in Street Cleansing

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has launched a major £1.2 million street cleansing investment to enhance the cleanliness and appearance of public spaces across the district.

The £1.2 million investment will deliver both immediate improvements and long-term benefits for residents. It includes £500,000 in annual revenue funding to support enhanced staffing and cleansing schedules as part of a review of District Cleansing standards and resources, and £700,000 additional capital investment through the Council’s Fleet Management Replacement Programme to upgrade the street cleansing fleet.

As part of the Council’s District Cleansing Review, a major recruitment campaign was undertaken to increase the capacity of the District Cleansing team.

The District Cleansing Review will include routine street sweeping, litter picking and bin emptying, scheduled in line with new cleansing frequencies. The service will also tackle issues such as fly-tipping and other environmental incidents, ensuring a timely response that maintains cleanliness and public satisfaction across the district.

The initial period will focus on raising cleansing standards across the district, followed by ongoing work to maintain those standards consistently.

Seven additional new high-performance street cleansing vehicles have been procured through the Council’s Fleet Management Replacement Programme. Their compact design allows better access to residential areas and enables crews to tackle persistent issues such as litter, dog fouling and chewing gum removal. The introduction of these vehicles alongside existing cleansing fleet will enhance the Council’s capacity to deliver cleansing services, across the district.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Chairperson, Councillor Philip Campbell said, “This is about more than just keeping our streets clean - it’s about fostering pride in our communities, supporting wellbeing and investing in the people who live and work here. We are committed to delivering high-quality, responsive services that reflect the priorities of our residents. This investment forms part of the Council’s broader ambition to build sustainable, connected and vibrant communities across the district.”