Wakefield Council has plan to 'spruce up' city centre around The Ridings and Wakefield Cathedral

The council has joined up with Wakefield BID – which represents city businesses - to carry out additional cleaning, brighten up planters with the addition of new flowers, and to enhance shop fronts for when the high street is able to safely reopen.

The first stage is underway and has seen the remove unsightly stains such chewing gum, and algae from paved areas and bring them back to looking their best.

The first places to have received a fresh look are the pedestrian areas in and around the main entrance to the Ridings Shopping Centre and the steps to Wakefield Cathedral.

Coun Maureen Cummings Cabinet Member for Environment, Communities and Poverty, said: “We are very pleased to be working with Wakefield BID on this fantastic initiative.

“It is great to see these paved areas back to their best and this reflects the pride we all feel in our city centre and our commitment to supporting the high street.

"taking steps now and working with partners we can look forward to the time when we can welcome, government guidance permitting, the full reopening of our high streets.

“When that happens we’ll be ready for residents and visitors to come and enjoy everything we have to offer in great surroundings.”

Coun Darren Byford, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and Regeneration at Wakefield Council said: “Supporting our city and town high streets is really important as we plan for the district’s economic recovery from the pandemic, and as we plan for a better future for residents and businesses.

“We want to reassure our businesses that we are here to help them and we will do everything possible to support them to reopen successfully and safely when they are able to do so.”

“With areas being so much quieter, due to lockdown we’ve taken the opportunity to work with Wakefield BID to do a one off deep cleaning on top of our regular cleaning, the results are fantastic and we’ll be looking to do more in the city centre.”

Christine Armstrong, Director of Wakefield BID said: “We’re very pleased to have teamed up with the Council to provide this deep clean. It is really important that when lockdown is over our city centre Iooks great and is ready to welcome back residents and visitors to enjoy our shops, cafes, bars and restaurants which provide the many fantastic services and facilities that we all value and appreciate.”

Wakefield Council cleanses over 1,700 miles of roads and pavements across the Wakefield district removing on average around 86 tonnes of litter and debris per week.

Residents can find out more about the Government’s roadmap, by visiting: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-spring-2021#north

Wakefield Council’s business support team remains available to provide support and guidance to all businesses whether it be to receive advice on operating in a COVID-19 secure manner or for financial support. They can be contacted at [email protected] or call 01924 306 630.