DEEP cuts across Darlington’s street cleaning services will leave the town “knee deep in litter” according to councillors.

Hundreds of thousands of pounds are set to be saved by Darlington Borough Council if plans go ahead to reduce maintenance staff and the frequency of cleaning operations across the borough.

But residents and councillors have condemned the cost-cutting proposals as part of the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) that would see grass cutting reduced to one cut per year and floral displays being uprooted entirely.

The Northern Echo: RUBBISH: Litter on Eamont Drive, in Darlington

Rubbish on Eamont Road, in Darlington.

The fourth special Place Scrutiny Committee meeting called within an eight day period saw councillors ask questions of their colleagues who have proposed a 40 per cent reduction in street cleaning services.

During the Town Hall meeting on Monday, April 18, committee members agreed that environmental crime would take a steep hike if fly-tipping, littering and dog fouling went un-policed by the council.

Committee chair, Councillor Bob Carson said: “People will be coming in from across the region if they know there’ll be no authority to stop fly-tippers.

“We’re trying to attract businesses and people to come and live and work in the town.

“It’s a serious problem and we need to try and mitigate that.”

One Darlington resident also asked councillors to re-think the current proposals during the meeting and said visitors to the town would not make a return visit if severe cuts to street cleaning services go ahead.

Madeleine Sutcliffe said: “I think that street cleaning is about the most important service in the town.

“When you first go into a town, you see whether it’s clean and tidy and that first impression is the most important thing.

“If you don’t like what you see during that first impression, you won’t come back, you won’t move there, and you won’t bring take your business there.

“It’s absolutely vital that we can be seen to be looking after our town.”

Darlington Borough Council’s Place Scrutiny Committee are set to challenge the authority on its current proposals in the coming weeks.

  • What do you think of the state of Darlington's streets and what do you think will happen should these cuts go ahead?
  • Send us photos of fly-tipping and litter in your area. Email newsdesk@nne.co.uk