A new, specialist street washing van procured by municipal contractor Biffa is helping Arun District Council to keep its streets sparkling, the waste company has announced.
The customised Ford Transit, supplied and adapted by Bristol Street Motors, is fitted with high pressure, hot water washing equipment that effectively cleans new street surfaces in the district. The single-manned cleansing van is also used to remove chewing gum deposits and graffiti.
In the last three years, redevelopment of Bognor High Street, together with Pier Road and River Walk in Littlehampton, has included light-coloured surfaces which proved difficult to keep clean with standard machines such as sweepers.
The van contains a Karcher pressure washer, run off a Kubota auxiliary diesel engine, which can spray water or steam. Its 2,000 litre on-board water tank can work for around an hour, and up to 100 m2 can be cleaned each day in large, heavily soiled precinct areas.
Arun District Council is home to popular seaside towns such as Littlehampton and Bognor Regis, a number of popular Blue Flag beaches, and historic towns like Arundel. Seasonal changes in visitor numbers are a major consideration factor in Arun’s cleansing strategy, and its operational delivery by Biffa.
The council’s relationship with Biffa goes back nearly 15 years. In 2003, municipal contractor Verdant (later bought by Biffa) won the council’s household collections and streets and beach cleansing contract.
Biffa was recently awarded its third consecutive contract with the council, this time for three years, effective from 1st February, with an option to extend for a further three years.