The district council has announced a £1.2 million investment aimed at making streets and public spaces across the district cleaner and tidier.
The council stated that the funding will “deliver both immediate improvements and long-term benefits” for residents.
The investment includes:
£700,000 for upgrading the council’s street cleansing fleet
£500,000 for hiring additional staff and increasing the amount of cleaning carried out
These added resources are expected to significantly improve routine street sweeping, litter picking, and bin emptying.
“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,” a council statement explained.
The initial phase will focus on raising cleansing standards across the district, followed by ongoing maintenance to keep those standards consistently high.
As part of the investment, seven new high-performance street cleansing vehicles have been purchased.
“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 statement added.
These new vehicles will operate alongside the existing fleet, enhancing the council’s overall cleaning capacity.
Community Support
Council Chairperson Philip Campbell emphasised the broader significance of the investment:
“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.”
He added that the move is part of the council’s broader ambition to build sustainable, connected, and vibrant communities throughout the district.
Positive Political Response
The investment was welcomed by Cllr Oonagh Hanlon and her Sinn Féin party colleague, Cathy Mason MLA.
Cllr Hanlon described the announcement as “really positive news” for people across the district:
“Investing in street cleansing is about more than appearance – it improves the safety and wellbeing of all.
This investment secures new equipment and regular cleansing schedules which will see both immediate and long-term improvements for our area.”
South Down MLA Cathy Mason added:
“This investment will benefit our residents, delivering an important service for ratepayers, as well as those who visit our towns and villages and enjoy all that we have to offer.
Sinn Féin will continue to push for high-quality services for all ratepayers and ensure that our streets are maintained and improved.”
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