Keeping Bedford clean, safe and welcoming
Work to ensure that Bedford continues to be a safe and welcoming place to visit sees District Enforcement Ltd awarded a contract to deter those from spoiling our parks and open spaces and Bedford town centre from environmental offences.
Taking over from LA Support at the end of their contract, District Enforcement have been awarded this contract in Bedford Borough following a procurement process.
They will have the power to enforce and issue fines to people seen littering, spitting, cycling through the pedestrianised area during the day, allowing their dog to foul and not clearing it up, and other dog control issues.
From today, Monday 2 November, District Enforcement join the Council's officers and people will see the change with a new dark blue uniform.
The scheme itself won't cost the council, and therefore tax payers, a penny as it is self-financing, with costs being covered by the income from the Fixed Penalty Notices paid by those who litter, and commit other environment offences.
Councillor Charles Royden, Portfolio Holder for Environment said "I received countless complaints of anti-social behaviour by individuals in our town centre and in open spaces across the Borough. So, following consultation, we introduced Public Space Protection Orders which gave us the powers to issue fines to tackle these anti-social behaviours, as well as against people littering. We want Bedford Borough to continue to be a safe, welcoming and clean place to live, work and visit. Unfortunately, there are a minority of people who do not do their bit and that is not acceptable. We will continue to enforce against anyone who is seen dropping litter, endangering pedestrians in the town centre, and not controlling and cleaning up after their dog in a responsible way. The Council will continue to work with our contractors, ensuring that they operate in a fair, transparent and thorough way- tackling offences where they are seen, and providing a valuable service to local residents."
Colin Buchanan, Head of Operations for District Enforcement Ltd said "District Enforcement is excited to be working in partnership with Bedford Borough Council and play our part in keeping such a beautiful borough clean, tidy and safe. I am confident with our dedicated team of officers, who will on a daily basis, patrol the whole borough of Bedford, we will see a behaviour change within the borough."