New clean-up teams are making a difference in Swansea say council

The new service launched by Swansea Council involves a special team referred to as Cleansing Ward Operative Team (CWOT) who are directed to hotspots and other locations in the city by local councillors and the public.

Their work includes litter picking, fly tipping removal, removal of excessive weed growth as well as removal and cutting back of overgrown vegetation in locations that might not receive regular treatment by the Council’s main cleansing teams.

The Council launched the new service as part of a commitment made last year when it listed a whole host of priorities to make Swansea a better city for residents and businesses.

In recent weeks, the special teams have been deployed to communities all across the city, including Mumbles, Clydach, Loughor, Morriston, Cockett, Mayals and Gowerton.

The works have resulted in lots of praise from residents and councillors who are seeing the benefits.

Cyril Anderson, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said the Cleansing Ward Operative Team have made a huge difference in communities.

He said: “The new scheme is very much be reliant on the involvement of residents and ward councillors who provide information to the team about where they consider problems that need to be tackled.

“In most cases, the locations they go to might be off the beaten track or are not part of our normal litter picking or grass cutting routes. Even so, the public might notice some of these areas when they are going about their business and that’s why we’ve introduced this new service so the residents can get involved and guide them to areas that need some attention.

“So far, we have had great feedback from residents and local ward members who have all told me and the team how much better things look after the teams have visited.

“This is a great scheme and one which makes a difference and clearly means a lot to residents who take pride in their community.”

(Lead image: Swansea Council)