| Hot-wash & gum removal |
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In October 2008, the first of the new programme of hot-washing and gum removal took place across the area. The aim of the programme is to rid the pavements of the stains left by dirt, grease and chewing gum, giving the area a brighter and more welcoming appearance, particularly in those areas with high footfall. This service is provided in addition to Council services, which only offer sweeping of the streets.
The hot-wash contractor, Gum Clear uses equipment that has been specifically designed to remove gum from external surfaces using only two litres of water per hour, minimising the environmental impact of the cleaning process, unlike traditional high pressure power washing which uses around eight litres of water per minute and which can quickly flood an area and cause damage by dislodging the grout and sand in paving joints. The hot-washing and gum removal takes place across the whole area once a year, with six ‘problem areas’ receiving an additional deep cleansing every six months. During the hot-wash, a trial took place of a pavement treatment called GumStop in a small area of Lower Marsh. The treatment applied to paving stones, protects the surface from weathering and repels chewing gum, water, airborne dirt, acid rain, smog, industrial pollutants, oil and grease and as a result means that rain water removes most stains as the dirt is prevented from sticking to the pavement. As a result of the trial, GumStop has now been applied to the principal streets in the area with the aim of reducing the need for regular intensive cleaning in the future.
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