STREET CLUTTER BUSTING
Background
The steering group for the Streetscape Design Manual has identified a problem
of redundant signage and street furniture. Most streets contain a range
of signage, poles and street furniture that serve no useful purpose. This
clutter narrows the footway impeding pedestrian movement, presents a target
for fly-posting, endangers blind and partially sighted people and makes
the streets look ugly and uncared for.
The publication of the Streetscape Design Manual in June will initiate a more discerning approach to installing new signage and street furniture. However, there is a pressing need to remove the existing clutter.
Proposal
It is proposed that Nottingham City Council adopt the same approach to this
problem as the London Borough of Camden. A ‘Clutter
Buster’ would be appointed on a full time basis. They would be equipped
to decide whether an item was redundant and remove it. The ‘Clutter
Buster’ would have a basic knowledge of the relevant highway regulations
and experience of manual works on the highway. If they were uncertain about
whether an item could be removed they would use picture messaging to get
an instant response from the traffic management ward officers.
The clutter busting effort would match the sequence for decriminalised parking. It would begin in the city centre, followed by arterial routes and then other areas.
A priority for removal would be the “No waiting at any time” signs that accompany double yellow lines. Recent changes to the Traffic Signs Regulations mean these signs are no longer required to enforce waiting restrictions. We roughly estimate that there are 20, 000 of these signs in the City with many on individual poles.
The appointment of a Clutter Buster will provide an opportunity to publicise NCC’s commitment to improving the appearance of the streets and promoting ease of movement for pedestrians and people with sight problems. The environmental benefits of recycling the metal and reducing the amount that is installed can also be stressed. NCC can set a national example for good practice, particularly in the removal of “No waiting at any signs” that other highway authorities can emulate. Publicity for the Clutter Buster would coincide with the publication of the Streetscape Design Manual, demonstrating that the Streetscape Initiative is bringing immediate benefits. The Buster would have a liveried vehicle that would give them a high profile around the streets of Nottingham.
Financial Implications
The project will require a budget of £51,000 per annum. This will
finance a dedicated site worker, a livered truck, tools and equipment. It
will also cover the materials needed to reinstate footpaths where signage
and street furniture is removed.
Three separate sources of finance are proposed:
Traffic Management Revenue Budget for Highway Schemes £20,000
Highway MaintenanceRevenue Budget £21,000
Local Transport Plan Capital Budget - from the Civilised Streets block allocation
£10,000
Total £51,000
The Clutter Buster would be employed by NCCW, who would contribute £21,000.
Contributions from DES would be made at three monthly intervals and NCCW
will provide a log of works undertaken.
NCC Development Department
March 2003
NOTE:
The Clutter Buster is now at work and already some difference has been observed
(September 2003) - Editor
The City’s Clutter Busting initiative was put into place after a group of officers from Nottingham visited the London Borough of Camden and examined and appraised the Camden Boulevard Project.
This project is based on the Borough’s Community Strategy that states quite clearly “By 2005 the Council will make streets in Camden more attractive through better cleaning, design, enforcement and lighting. It will upgrade pavements and keep them in a good state of repair.”
In a bold but simple and effective way Camden has from the outset brought benefits to the whole Borough by starting washing its streets as well as sweeping them. All too often a few choice or selected areas get too much attention.
The project brings together the various relevant Council departments to get maximum impact through partnerships not only within the Council but also in establishing new relationships with public utilities, contractors, local business and commerce. Particular importance will be given to communicating intent and completion to the residents of the Borough.
Nothing comes without a price and the Boulevard Project is budgeted at £32 million. For this the residents will get:
New footway surfaces, removal of unnecessary street furniture, improved street lighting, a review of enforcement activities, improved shop frontages, an offensive against graffiti and fly-posting, more trees, better drainage, and better facilities for people with disabilities.
Already the initiative has made an impact, with favourable responses from external auditors and from “customer satisfaction ratings of 81%” after works have been completed.
Besides, now, clutter busting - removing unnecessary street furniture, Nottingham has long had a Shop Front Design Guide and for several months through the big wheel and tramworks a considerable amount of quality repaving has been, and is being, carried out in the city centre. So things closer to home are really getting better. Now it is up to us all to develop a pride of place and where possible to educate, inform, persuade that litter especially discarded chewing gum and cigarette butts, and graffiti and flyposting instantly undermine the Council’s good intentions.
Ken Brand
September 2003
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