Extra sweeping teams are taking to the streets on leaf clearing duty. They’re tackling the fallen leaves this autumn to keep the borough as safe as possible for residents.
Ealing is a beautifully green and leafy borough in the spring and summer. Inevitably, that means a high volume of fallen leaves in the autumn, which could cause a slip or a fall when wet.
Keeping streets safe for residents
Greener Ealing (GEL), Ealing Council’s in-house waste, recycling and grounds maintenance service, is prioritising the clear-up of the leaves. The leaf clear-up will make key public places safer, starting with areas outside schools, hospitals and day centres where the borough’s most vulnerable residents may be walking, before moving on to shopping areas and train stations.
The street sweepers will also be clearing steep hills and streets identified as having the heaviest leaf fall, and anywhere that leaves are thought to pose a risk of causing roads to flood.
An extra 38 sweepers are on hand to help the crews working across the borough during the leaf fall period, which can last up to three months depending on the weather.
Greener Ealing, leafier Ealing
Councillor Deirdre Costigan, the council’s cabinet member for climate action, said: “Ealing is well-known for being leafy and green which is fantastic in spring and summer but can cause a bit of a nuisance for some people come the autumn. This is why we have dedicated teams working hard to keep the borough’s streets clean and free from slip hazards.”
Residents can also request a spot clearance in areas that have become congested and slippery through the build-up of leaves or the possibility of flooding.
Garden Waste Collection Service
To coincide with the leaf fall, residents are being reminded that the council offers a fortnightly chargeable garden waste collection service. Visit the council’s website for further details.
Following its launch in July 2020, GEL has been operating a weeding programme on behalf of Ealing Council, which runs from March to September. The council have decided to also take the leaf clearing service in-house. This is the first year that GEL has carried out this task for the council.
The weeds are treated with an environmentally friendly spray, and it is not harmful to animals. The spray has to be applied in suitable weather conditions to give it the best chance of working. On occasions the application had to be suspended because of heavy rainfall, undoing some of the hard work. However, the programme for this year is now complete.