A NEW electric street-cleaning vehicle is set to take to the streets of Hailsham as part of efforts to tackle graffiti, chewing gum and other problems across the town.
Hailsham Town Council has agreed to buy the specialist vehicle using Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding.
The compact vehicle, designed by Trafalgar Cleaning Equipment, carries its own gum and graffiti-removal equipment and can reach locations which may be difficult to access with larger street-cleaning machinery.
Council officials say it will give staff a dedicated mobile resource to deal with graffiti and other cleaning problems more quickly.
Being fully electric, the vehicle is also expected to provide a more environmentally friendly option for cleaning public areas around the town.
Tony Lee, the Town Council’s Operations and Facilities Manager, said: “This vehicle will give us a much greater ability to respond to graffiti, chewing gum and other cleaning issues quickly and effectively.
“Its compact size and self-contained equipment mean that we can get into areas that are difficult to reach with larger machinery, which is particularly important when dealing with graffiti in less accessible locations.
“We want to see a cleaner, tidier Hailsham, and this investment gives us another practical tool to achieve that.”
Mr Lee said the council also wanted to work with partners and the community to identify problem areas and discourage further incidents.
Cllr Dave Chapman, chairman of the council’s Assets Management Committee, said graffiti and other forms of anti-social behaviour could have a significant impact on how people feel about their local area.
He said: “By investing CIL funding in this specialist equipment, we are putting a practical resource in place that can deliver visible results for the community.
“We also recognise that tackling these issues cannot be done by the Town Council alone.”
Residents encouraged to report graffiti
Residents are also being encouraged to report graffiti found on Town Council-owned property.
Reports should include as much information as possible, such as the location, a description of the affected property and, where possible, a photograph.
Graffiti on land or property which is not owned or maintained by Hailsham Town Council may need to be reported to the relevant landowner or authority.
The council says reports can also help it identify locations where repeated incidents are taking place and consider further action.
Residents can report graffiti and damage through Hailsham Town Council’s online reporting service.
