Leaf clearance programme underway
An annual programme to keep St Albans District’s streets clear of autumn leaves is well underway.
The service is not a statutory requirement placed on local authorities by the Government.
However, St Albans City and District Council introduced the service in response to residents’ requests.
The Council has maintained the programme despite the severe financial challenges it is faced with to achieve a balanced budget.
More than 100 roads were carefully targeted this year for regular sweeps from mid-October to early December.
Tree-lined streets in St Albans, Harpenden, Redbourn, Wheathampstead, London Colney and other parts of the District have been included.
The leaf clearing work is being carried out by the Council’s street cleansing contractor Veolia’s dedicated team.
They have been using leaf blowers to gather up the leaves which are used for composting.
Councillor Helen Campbell praised the leaf clearance effort at a meeting of the Council’s Public Realm Committee on Thursday 6 November.
Cllr Campbell, the Committee’s Chair, said:
I know that residents can get quite concerned at this time of the year about their streets being covered in leaves.
Many local authorities do not offer a clearance service to residents as they are not obliged to do so and it can be costly.
We were determined, though, to offer this service as we know how much our residents value clean and well-kept streets.
We can’t necessarily clear leaves from every one of the many hundreds of streets in the District.
But more than 100 streets are targeted to be swept multiple times in the autumn and we are constantly reviewing our list to see if there is an urgent need to add to it.
Residents can request a sweep of their street if they feel there is a build-up of leaves. They should email wastemanagement@stalbans.gov.uk
Householders are asked not to blow leaves from their own properties onto public roads.
Photo: before and after shot of leaves being cleared in a District street.
Media contact: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council: 01727-919533; john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.