Salford Liberal Democrats Take War on Litter Back to the Town Hall
Led by Councillor Paul Heilbron, the proposal — Operation Clean Streets Salford — sets out a targeted one-year pilot designed to increase street cleansing capacity, improve residential neighbourhood cleaning, and drive long-term behaviour change through stronger community engagement.
Councillor Paul Heilbron said:
“Residents are rightly proud of where they live — but too often they tell me they’re frustrated by litter, fly-tipping and streets that just don’t feel cared for.
The Clean Up Salford Quays team have shown what’s possible when the community steps up. Now it’s time for the council to step up too.
This amendment takes our war on litter from the waterfront to the Town Hall.”
What Operation Clean Streets Salford Will Deliver
Increasing Street Cleansing Capacity
The amendment proposes recruiting four additional Street Cleansing Labourers on fixed-term contracts for one year. Working morning and afternoon shifts, Monday to Friday, they will focus on residential streets that require additional attention.
This proactive approach will:
- Improve cleaning frequency and quality
- Reduce reliance on reactive call-outs
- Lower long-term operational costs linked to enforcement and emergency clean-ups
Expanding Support to Residential Wards
Enhanced cleansing will be extended into residential wards where persistent littering and obstructive parking impact cleanliness.
Priority areas will be identified by the Communities and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel using operational data from the street cleansing team — ensuring support is targeted where it is most needed.
Targeted Street Cleaning Programme
A new coordinated maintenance programme will address one of the most common barriers to effective street sweeping: parked cars.
Residents will receive advance notice to temporarily relocate vehicles on scheduled cleaning days. This will allow:
- Full road sweeping along the curb
- Removal of accumulated litter and fly-tipping
- Refreshed road markings where required
By coordinating street-by-street interventions, the council can maximise efficiency and reduce maintenance backlogs.
Urban Litter Ranger – Driving Community Responsibility
The proposal also creates a new Urban Litter Ranger (Community Engagement Officer) on a fixed-term basis for one year.
The role will:
- Lead educational campaigns
- Support community clean-up initiatives
- Work with schools, residents and businesses
- Promote civic responsibility
By encouraging ownership of public spaces, the scheme aims to reduce long-term reliance on enforcement and reactive cleansing services.
The Communities & Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel will monitor the scheme’s impact and cost-effectiveness throughout the pilot year. If successful, a further amendment will be brought forward to secure permanent funding in 2027/28.
Councillor Heilbron added:
“This is about pride in place. The volunteers behind Clean Up Salford Quays have proven that people care deeply about their neighbourhoods.
Salford Liberal Democrats are putting forward a serious, costed plan to back that community spirit with real action.
If we get this right, we won’t just clean streets — we’ll change culture.”
Ends
