Local Environmental Quality

In 2012, the Bath Business Improvement District group (BID) was formed to reinforce the Deep Cleaning programme around the city streets. The group includes BID levy payers, Bath and North East Somerset Council, landlords and small businesses. To date, the group have made a strong and positive impact in the following areas:

• The appointment of five BID Rangers;
• The acquisition of a BID Ranger vehicle and cleaning machine;
• ‘Making the most of our streets’ – a cleanup project street by street;
• Weekly Community Payback activity;
• Targeted deep clean activity in the worst areas of the city.

Operation Sunrise

‘Operation Sunrise’ is an initiative by the Council to raise awareness within the business community for the need to adhere to trade waste collection times. Early morning patrols have been made to check that rubbish was being put out at agreed times, which has resulted in reducing litter on the streets and making the city a more attractive place at night. It has also had an indirect benefit on the urban gull problem as it has meant that there is less food waste around for gulls to scavenge on.

Urban Gulls

The Council’s Environmental Protection team have produced a leaflet that provides advice and guidance to owners and managers of premises to prevent urban gulls from nesting on their roofs. Gull proofing measures have been recommended as part of the Council’s approval of planning applications, which should encourage developers to prevent gulls from nesting on their roof tops by eliminating perches, and using netting and wires where appropriate.

Litterpicks

As usual, community litterpicks proved to be popular events across the city throughout the year. The Bath in Bloom Committee members joined forces with our supporters and ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ groups many times over the year.
 

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June Player and her ‘On Board ‘ group regularly engaged the help of the local branch of McDonalds, who donated a litter bin and then took part in a litterpick,