Businesses are expected to benefit from the appointment of three new wardens brought in to patrol town centres across Stoke-on-Trent as part of an £800,000 project to keep local communities safe and clean.
The new wardens are part of a 12-strong team which has been recruited to support efforts to improve the local environment and encourage residents and businesses to take pride in their communities.
Operating across all of the six towns, and hot spot areas that impact retail and businesses, the new team will be responsible for ensuring town centres are clean and tidy.
They have the power to issue community protection warnings and notices, waste removal notices and untidy and unkempt land notices.
The aim of the project, which is being funded by £894,000 of UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF), is to help raise aspirations of local communities and instil a refreshed pride in homes, streets, estates and the entire city.
Councillor Amjid Wazir, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “These new roles, particularly the Town Centre wardens, will help us to build that momentum in making our city safe again.
“We want to ensure that everyone has access to the support they need and, by targeting places we know people are hesitant about visiting, such as the city centre, we can help to bring the community together again.”
The town centre wardens have been joined by three environmental crime officers, three cleansing officers, one environmental investigator, one paralegal and one admin officer.
The UKSPF is the government’s domestic replacement for the European Structural and Investment Programme. It provides local authorities funding for communities, places, businesses, people and skills.
