Seen some litter? Call the Grime Buster and his industrial vacuum (From Thisisdorset)
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Dorchester's street cleaners get industrial vaccum to suck up litter - all you have to do is call the grime hotline and report it
1:00pm Monday 11th March 2013 in Latest By Samantha Harman
RUBBISH FIGHT: Graham Mentern, front, with, from left, Robert Gould, Mark Andre and Stuart Montgomery stand with the new street cleaning vacuum
RUBBISH woes have been vacuumed away thanks to a new purchase to help keep Dorchester’s streets clean.
The town’s BID group has invested in a new barrow which will suck up dirt on its rounds as part of the Keeper of the Walks project.
Shoppers will see street cleaning staff, employed by West Dorset District Council, keep the high streets clean of grime during the day using the special contraption.
The machine, which cost around £1,500, will be used in between the twice-daily street cleans to suck up bits of litter that have found their way on to the pavement.
Phil Gordon, project director at the Dorchester BID, said: “The barrow should last for around five years.
“Compared to many towns, Dorchester is pretty free of rubbish but the odd bit does go astray.
“The streets in the BID area are cleaned twice daily, but there is a big gap between the first time and the second time and so you might notice the odd piece of rubbish here and there.
“The barrow means these can be cleaned up in between the normal street cleans promptly.”
Residents and BID members are encouraged to call the ‘Grime Hotline’ and leave a message for the keeper of the walks, who will tackle the trash as soon as possible.
As well as keeping walkways tidy in between street cleans, the keeper is also responsible for emptying cigarette bins and reporting any repairs that are needed. Mr Gordon added: “Personally, I would like to see more done in the law to stop litter dropping in general, but it’s not all littering.
“Sometimes on a windy day when the bins are full, bits of rubbish do drop on to the street.
“But if people call the hotline and leave a message, we can make sure somebody is able to sort it straight away.”
Mark Andre, of BID member Waitrose in Dorchester, said: “We’re trying to do everything we can to add value to the town and encourage visitors here. “Keeping the town clean and tidy is an important part of that.”
If you spot rubbish in Dorchester’s BID area, call 01305 252401 and leave a message.
