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Council to relaunch street cleaning service

Thursday, 15 January 2026 17:22

By Gareth Joy X @lookoutwales2

VOG Council

A street cleaning service is being relaunched by Vale of Glamorgan Council this Spring.

Five dedicated Street Scene teams will be set up after the council received extra funding as a result of the county's high recycling rates.

A pre-Spring cleaning programme is already underway in Barry targeting the town centre and rear lanes - with similar work due to be carried out in Penarth, Cowbridge and Llantwit Major.

The council says a 'real terms' increase in Welsh Government funding and most cost-effective ways of delivering services means their budget is looking healthier.

Cllr Mark Wilson, cabinet member for neighbourhood services, said: "I know the condition of our public spaces is a top priority for residents and many have been calling for more resources to be put into maintaining them."

"I’m delighted to announce that, after listening to that feedback, we are making a raft of improvements that will keep our towns and villages looking their best."

"Led by residents, our excellent recycling performance has exceeded targets and helped fund this improved service through payments received for recycled waste."

The new service has been made possible by money from the sale of recycled materials and forms part of a broader investment programme.

All four of the Vale's town centres will have their own Street Scene teams - with a fifth looking after large villages - to help maintain the appearance of their local area and quickly attend cases of spillages and litter.

They'll have access to five vans with specialist equipment allowing them to clean road signs more frequently and provide a rapid response to grafitti.

The new service, being launched in April, will also see the return of street sweepers in Penarth, Cowbridge and Llantwit Major, as well as more cleaning at key entrance points and routes across the county.

Extra resources will also be diverted to tackling fly-tipping in Barry, including more regular patrols of known hotspots and prosecution of offenders.

Public toilets will also be cleaned more often - with plans to refurbish facilities in Barry, Cowbridge and Penarth - and there'll be a weed removal and leaf clearing programme.

Vale of Glamorgan Council says it will also work more closely with town and community councils, local groups and litter picking volunteers, as well as Keep Wales Tidy, the Probation Service and youth offending teams.

Cllr Mark Wilson added: "After a period of sustained financial challenges, we are also now in a stronger position following a welcome settlement from Welsh Government and hard work from staff to transform the way services are delivered."

"The council does not want to make cuts, there are areas such as street cleaning that desperately need investment, and I’m delighted we are now able to do that."

"This new service will help tackle litter and fly-tipping, graffiti and vandalism and improve the overall appearance and standard of locations across the county. We are all proud to live in the Vale and this new cleaning regime will give us places that clearly reflect that."

The council's cabinet discussed its draft budget proposals on Thursday, after receiving more Welsh Government funding than expected in the wake of a £300 million deal in the Senedd between Labour ministers and Plaid Cymru.

But the report warned that despite the real terms increase, the local authority is still facing a gap of nearly £6.6 million in the next financial year.

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