Town Council Invests in New Electric Street Cleaning Vehicle to Tackle Graffiti

Hailsham Town Council is stepping up its efforts to tackle graffiti and improve the appearance of the town with the purchase of a new, specialist fully electric street cleaning vehicle.

The Town Council has agreed to purchase the compact mounted gum and graffiti removal vehicle using Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding, providing a dedicated mobile resource to help tackle graffiti, chewing gum and other cleaning issues in difficult-to-access areas across Hailsham, as well as keeping the bus shelters maintained by the Town Council clean and graffiti-free.

Designed by Trafalgar Cleaning Equipment, the specialised vehicle has its own range of on-board tools, all contained within the unit itself. Its compact design means it can be used in areas that are inaccessible or difficult to clean using conventional street-cleaning equipment.

Being fully electric, the vehicle also provides a more environmentally friendly approach to street cleaning, while allowing the Council to respond more effectively to local issues.

The investment demonstrates the Town Council’s proactive approach to tackling anti-social behaviour and maintaining a clean, attractive town, while taking the lead on a wider local partnership initiative.

“This vehicle will give us a much greater ability to respond to graffiti, chewing gum and other cleaning issues quickly and effectively,” said Operations & Facilities Manager, Tony Lee. “Its compact size and self-contained equipment mean that we can get into areas that are difficult to reach with larger machinery, which is particularly important when dealing with graffiti in less accessible locations.”

“We want to see a cleaner, tidier Hailsham, and this investment gives us another practical tool to achieve that. Importantly, this is not simply about cleaning up after anti-social behaviour has taken place. We want to work with our partners and the community to identify problems, respond to them and discourage further incidents wherever possible.”

Cllr Dave Chapman, Chair of the Assets Management Committee, added: “The purchase of this vehicle demonstrates that the Town Council is prepared to take the lead when it comes to tackling issues that affect the appearance and quality of our town.”

“Graffiti and other forms of anti-social behaviour can have a significant impact on how people feel about their local area. By investing CIL funding in this specialist equipment, we are putting a practical resource in place that can deliver visible results for the community.”

“We also recognise that tackling these issues cannot be done by the Town Council alone. We want to build on our work with local businesses, emergency services, Wealden District Council and other partners where appropriate, creating a joined-up approach to keeping Hailsham clean, attractive and welcoming.”

How residents can report graffiti

The Town Council is also reminding residents that they can play an important part in helping to tackle graffiti by reporting incidents when they are spotted.

A graffiti reporting scheme is currently in place, which enables residents to report graffiti on Town Council-owned property so that the Council can assess the issue and arrange appropriate removal.

Residents are encouraged to provide as much information as possible, including the location of the graffiti, a description of the affected property and, where possible, a photograph.

Where graffiti is located on property or land that is not owned or maintained by Hailsham Town Council, reports may need to be directed to the relevant landowner or responsible authority. Where appropriate, the Council will work with partner organisations to help ensure incidents are reported to the correct body.

Residents can report issues through the Town Council’s online reporting service: Hailsham Town Council – Report Damage to Town Council Property.

The Council is particularly keen to receive reports of graffiti in public areas so that it can identify locations where repeat incidents are occurring and consider appropriate action.

The new electric street cleaning vehicle will form part of the Council’s ongoing programme of maintenance and environmental improvements, helping to keep Hailsham’s public spaces cleaner while supporting a coordinated community response to anti-social behaviour.