Shrewsbury town centre businesses have praised Shrewsbury Town Council for the visible improvement in the cleanliness and appearance of Shrewsbury town centre since it took over street cleaning.
Shrewsbury BID represents more than 500 businesses across the town centre and it says members have consistently reported cleaner streets, better-maintained bins and quicker responses when problems arise.
The town council took on the service as part of Shropshire Council’s street scene devolution pilot. From the start of April, Shrewsbury was one of four towns to begin operating new models for delivering these services, and it is the largest and most comprehensive of the pilots.
Businesses have particularly noticed the team’s willingness to go further than the service strictly requires, out of pride in the town – for example, by attending to shuts and passages outside their remit for the sake of the pedestrians who use them. 
The council prepared extensively for the handover, recruiting a nine-strong street cleaning team, with two members transferring from Shropshire Council’s contractor. It also leased two sweepers: a 15-tonne sweeper covers road surfaces, and a 3.5-tonne sweeper reaches footpaths, shuts, passages and other harder-to-access areas.
Between them, they cover more than 600 miles of streets. In June, residents voted to name the sweepers Sweep Caroline and Optimus Grime, and local firm Sign and Poster produced and installed the vehicles’ new livery.
As part of its preparations to take on the contract, the town council partnered with Shrewsbury Men’s Shed to repair damaged bins and benches in the town centre and to develop a replacement programme for those beyond repair.
Shed members refurbished benches now installed in The Square, funded by the town council, Shropshire Council and Shrewsbury BID, and began a rolling programme of restoring litter bins, which the town council expects to save thousands of pounds compared with buying new.
Mike Matthews, chair of the Board of Shrewsbury BID, said: “First impressions matter enormously to town centre businesses, and our members have seen a real difference this year. What stands out is the sense of ownership. The town council’s team treats Shrewsbury as their town, not just a contract. On behalf of our businesses, we want to recognise the positive difference that has made to the town.”
Paul Carvell, co-owner of Mystique - formerly Carvell on the Square – said: “As high-end shop owners , customers and visitors alike have commented on the visible improvements to street cleanliness and general maintenance in recent months, and the feel-good impression it creates. It makes you proud to be part of the town and the business community.”
Local resident Fiona contacted Shrewsbury BID to share her positive feedback on the cleanliness of the town since the takeover.
“It’s lovely to see people out and about working to keep the town clean and sparkling, and to see real trouble being taken to maintain things. While there’s always going to be more work to do, there’s been a vast improvement in the way the town looks – it's made me feel proud of where I live again.”
Members of the public can report street cleaning issues to Shrewsbury Town Council via their website (https://www.shrewsburytowncouncil.gov.uk/contact-us/report-an-issue/), by emailing enquiries@shrewsburytowncouncil.gov.uk or via Shropshire Council’s Fix My Street app.
Pictured: Karl Bartlett and Charlotte Jeffreys of the town council's street cleaning team. (Image courtesy of Shrewsbury Town Council)
