2000lbs of Litter Cleaned from City Centre Streets in Two-Day Big Spring Clean

On 12 - 13 April, over 30 volunteers completed a ‘Big Spring Clean’ of Stoke-on-Trent City Centre (Hanley). Organised and delivered by Stoke-on-Trent City Centre Business Improvement District (BID), the two-day cleanup forms a part of their annual ‘Operation Sparkle’ initiative.

The BID introduced Operation Sparkle in March 2021 with the aim to ensure the City Centre maintains a quality environment that will attract shoppers and visitors. In previous years, work completed has included:
 

• The installation of new planters and benches
• Road repairs and building work
• Frontage rejuvenation and new artwork on the likes of Hope Street and disused buildings across the city centre
• Removal of damaged fascias and overgrowth on Parliament Square.

(Volunteers for the Big Spring Clean included the team at Genr8, responsible for Smithfield.)

To kick-start Operation Sparkle in 2024, the BID completed a two-day Big Spring Clean, along with volunteers from the local business community and the public.
Across two days, the significant progress made included:

• 2012lbs of litter cleaned across the city centre, including Bethesda Gardens, Morley Street and Etruria Road. This is over 300lbs more that was collected during efforts in 2023
• 3 benches painted and rejuvenated, with bright eyecatching colours
• Half a million steps completed by BID team and volunteers

Operation Sparkle isn’t solely one weekend worth of work, and takes considerable time, effort and resources to cover action zones. From cutting back overgrowth to installation of planters and greenery, from window wrapping disused shop frontages to investigating new ways of using green space, the initiative is a year-round task.

Lead BID Director for Place Management, Julie Davies OBE said:
“The BID is fully aware of issues in the city centre around cleaning and the look and feel of the area. We are committed to tackling these issues. We are confident that our collective efforts through Operation Sparkle will achieve our objectives in accordance with one of the businesses priorities.”

The initiative has garnered widespread interest and the BID are exploring further opportunities into summer and beyond, for those who wish to actively take part in the solution.


(BID Team and volunteers pictured outside The Underground, Morley Street)

Following a successful campaign to clamp down on illegal dumping in our towns, residents, community groups and businesses are being asked to help with a final push to clean-up the city, as encouraged by Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Until Sunday 21 April, The Big Spring Clean in the Community takes place with activities all over Stoke-on-Trent for people to get involved with. It follows the hard-hitting IDIOT (Illegal Dumping in Our Town) campaign to crack down on the number of illegal dumping incidents in the city. The campaign saw environmental services teams’ issue over 1,500 fixed penalty notices and clear 5,186 incidents of illegally dumped waste since January 2023.

Councillor Amjid Wazir, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement, and sustainability, said: “We are committed to tackling environmental crime in the city and return a strong sense of pride.

 “I know from speaking with residents, you are all passionate about where you live, so let’s start with our own streets, our front door steps, or the alleyways that connect us to our neighbours. If you are able to pick up litter and help keep your local area clean, please do.

 “Over 20 businesses, community groups, and resident associations pledged their support to make the city a cleaner, greener place during the ‘#LoveSOT’ community clean-up fortnight last year, let’s beat this!”

Residents who would like to plan a litter pick, or would like to discuss alternative projects should email: environmental.admin@stoke.gov.uk.
For more information on Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID’s Operation Operation Sparkle (stokeontrentcitycentre.co.uk)