Deep clean ‘to ensure the city centre sparkles’

A SIX-MONTH deep-cleaning programme is set to take place in Cardiff to “ensure chosen parts of the city sparkle”.

Cardiff Business Improvement District (BID) announced the project this week, with businesses being given the chance to suggest areas they want to see cleaned up.

The scheme will begin this month, starting with Queen Street in the city centre.

Businesses will be able to suggest any areas to be cleaned through Cardiff BID’s team of street ambassadors, with suggestions influencing a weekly programme of work for the team.

The initiative is being rolled out after feedback gathered by the ambassadors suggested that parts of Cardiff were beginning to look untidy.

Tasks the cleansing team will be carrying out will include painting kerbside furniture, scraping off posters or stickers, removing grease and taking away waste.

The team of street ambassadors is due to visit businesses over the coming weeks to collect requests for which areas they want to see cleaned up.

Adrian Field, executive director of Cardiff BID, said: “Appearance and cleanliness is so important to businesses as it’s what brings their trade through the doors.

“We’re delighted to be able to offer this additional cleansing, making sure Cardiff is as clean as possible and ultimately, help out the businesses in the BID area.

“We’re starting with Queen Street but we will move to other areas across the city based on where the street ambassadors are getting the most requests.

“If the project is a success, we will extend the programme for a number of years.”

Tom Vincent, who works at coffee shop 200 Degrees, said: “The new deep cleaning initiative from Cardiff BID is fantastic.

“It’s a really great opportunity for businesses like us to play a part in making sure Cardiff looks clean and welcoming for tourists and shoppers.

“We’re based on Queen Street so will witness the project in action first, we’re really looking forward to seeing the results, not just outside our doors but across the city.”

A Cardiff council spokesman said: “The council is pleased to be working in partnership with the BID to make the city centre an even better place to visit. All of the work that the BID carry out is in addition to the council’s statutory responsibilities.”

Set up in November 2016, Cardiff BID will invest £7.5m into the city over five years in a series of new developments which will help in the transformation of the city.

It sets its own priorities to improve the trading environment for all those that visit and shop in the Welsh capital.

The BID comprises 990 properties spanning 130 streets and involves 700 businesses and organisations.

For more information, visit cardiffbid.com