THE CITY centre’s dirtiest streets and pavements are to be targeted in a “cleaning blitz” as a new campaign is launched.

A team of workers 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 in Brighton.

It marks the start of a new Brighton and Hove City Council campaign which calls upon residents to “Keep Brighton and Hove Tidy”.

The Argus:

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.

Enforcement officers will be out helping with the tidy up and also handing out fines “if needed”.

Read more: 'We all have a responsibility to keep the city tidy"

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

The four day clean up, from today until Friday, kicks off the council’s new campaign, and also ties in with this year’s national Keep Britain Tidy event which runs until September 27.

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

The Argus:

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

  • Volunteers: Anyone can volunteer to help with the clean up. Council will 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, 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.
  • Schools: Organise beach and park cleans and then make it an interesting part of the curriculum underlining how damaging littering and graffiti are.