Council bosses have vowed to help get the borough spring clean by investing half a million pounds into tackling weeds and litter.

The move is part of the budget process due to be agreed later this month. It includes an injection of cash to increase weed spraying, litter collection and grass cutting, along with an increased maintenance of public rights of way. Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for environmental services, said: 

“I have already reinstated grass cutting at a total of 130 sites across the borough and we started work on the overgrown grass and weeds which made the borough look untidy and run down.

"As we are approaching the spring, when people will be out and about in our parks and open spaces, it is essential we continue to make them look as inviting as we can. This budget proposal shows we listen to local people who care as passionately as we do about our green open spaces and the environment we live in.”

The council has identified £350,000 worth of funding per year which will be reinvested in green care services which also includes litter collection in parks and open spaces, shrub bed maintenance and public rights of way maintenance.

There was also a £150,000 one-off funding package to kick start the clean-ups this financial year.