City centre retailers and leisure businesses are continuing to play a key role in helping keep Nottingham’s streets clean, thanks to the regular outings of their state-of-the-art, high-powered cleansing machine.
The Nottingham Business Improvement District’s (BID) cleaning machine was launched nearly two years ago as part of a joint initiative with Nottingham City Council to improve standards of cleanliness around the city’s main shopping areas. It provides additional daily cleansing over and above normal street cleaning of the core retail and leisure areas of the city, ensuring the prompt removal of graffiti free of charge for BID members, and cleans litter bins monthly and street furniture three times a year.
In this year alone, the machine – newly re-branded in line with the retail and leisure BIDs combining to form the Nottingham BID – has cleaned an impressive 183,687 square feet of city centre pavements, with Exchange Walk and Albert Street next on its list.
“Obviously being able to provide visitors to the city with a clean and welcoming environment is of huge importance to retail and leisure businesses,” explains Neil Fincham, director of the Nottingham BID, chair of the BID’s place management advisory group and centre manager of The Exchange. “Clean and litter-free surroundings enhance the whole experience, encouraging visitors to shop, then perhaps stay, eat and drink in the city.”
Councillor Nicola Heaton, Portfolio Holder for Community Services said, “It’s great to see the BID-branded cleansing machine joining forces with the Council’s own cleaning operation and out on the streets so regularly. It shows the public that city centre businesses take the responsibility for cleanliness seriously, and recognise the important role it plays in encouraging visitors to the city.”
Nottingham’s clean streets became of even greater significance this week, as the city was awarded the coveted ‘Purple Flag’ for an impressive fourth year running. Purple Flag is the national accreditation scheme recognising excellence in the management of town and city centres at night. Similar to Blue Flags awarded to beaches, it is the ‘gold standard’ for night time destinations. 21st to 29th September was ‘Purple Flag Week’ – which saw a series of activities and celebrations taking place across the city to recognise the award. It was originated in Nottingham and has since been rolled out across the UK.
“Initiatives like the additional cleansing and Purple Flag all help to place Nottingham firmly on the map in terms of top cities to visit in the UK and reaffirm our status as the ‘destination of choice’ for shopping and leisure activities,” adds Neil Fincham.
