Southend City Day Graffiti Blitz Squads Set to Hit the Streets
Southend prepares for City Day with a major graffiti clean-up initiative
Southend, UK, Graffiti, Civic Pride, Clean-Up
Southend: The first Southend City Day is coming up on March 1. It’s all about celebrating the city and showing off what makes it special.
Before the big day, there’s going to be a major clean-up. They’re planning a graffiti blitz and a thorough clean of the streets.
Lydia Hyde, the councillor in charge of climate and waste, shared her excitement at a recent meeting. She said they’ll have teams out soon to tackle the graffiti and clean up the city. Residents are encouraged to report any graffiti they see through the ‘My Southend’ app, and they’ll be using jet washes to get rid of it.
She added that they’ll be giving the High Street a deep clean to make it shine for City Day. By the time the event rolls around, Southend will be sparkling!
This clean-up is part of a £1 million Civic Pride Plan, which will cost the council over £500,000, funded by grants and reserves.
Laurie Burton, who looks after children’s services, also praised the clean-up effort. He pointed out that while big issues matter, it’s often the little things, like graffiti and broken posts, that really affect people’s daily lives.
He mentioned how sad it is to hear people say Southend isn’t as nice as it used to be. They want to change that perception and make sure residents feel proud of their city.
Daniel Cowan, the council leader, emphasized that local businesses should also pitch in. He wants them to take care of their shop fronts, as many look neglected.
He noted that while small businesses usually keep their fronts tidy, national chains often don’t. It’s all about fostering pride in the community and encouraging everyone to care for their surroundings.