The cost of removing litter strewn across pavements and streets in Burnham-On-Sea after the town’s annual carnival has been revealed by the district council this week.
Scenes like these in Burnham High Street after last year’s carnival leave tax payers with a hefty £4,800 clean-up bill – and cash-strapped Sedgemoor District Council is urging spectators to bear this in mind when they attend next Monday’s spectacle.
District council spokeswoman Claire Faun told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “As soon as the carnival finishes – and while everyone else tucks themselves away in bed – the team from our Clean Surroundings Department are just starting their shifts.”
“Overnight, the town is cleared of chip cartons, drink cans and cardboard boxes left behind by thousands of spectators lining the streets and Burnham is restored to a pristine condition by 7am on the morning after the parade.”
“The estimated cost for this is about £4,800 which covers staff time, vehicles, bags and the cost of disposing of all those glasses, cans and food wrappers.”
“It usually takes about four hours to clean the two mile route and a little longer if it is very windy as the rubbish blows about.”
Claire added that Sedgemoor’s CCTV section will also be working closely with the police durng the carnival to ensure safety and reduce crime and disorder issues.
“A dedicated police officer will sit in the control room before and during the event. The CCTV control room acts like a second control centre for the police and images are forwarded to the police control room at Taunton. Our team also has an event radio so it is aware of incidents that are ongoing and can talk direct to the Police control centre.”
She added that Sedgemoor District Council also applies to the highways authority for traffic orders to temporarily close streets, inspects mobile caterers, such as burger vans and coffee stalls, and also arranges for installation of extra public toilets in Burnham.
Our photos show, top, the litter-strewn pavements in Burnham High Street immediately after the carnival and, above, after the big clean-up
RELATED LINKS:
Burnham-On-Sea Carnival 2010
