A four-week cleaning operation of Tower Hamlets’ public spaces is due to begin this week as part of the Mayor’s Covid Recovery Fund. 

Starting tomorrow, the ‘deep clean’ aims to address environmental and vandalism concerns that have been left unchecked over the course of the pandemic. This will include tackling the build-up of graffiti, fly-tipping and litter that has accumulated in public spaces.

From this week until March 21, a teams from across the council’s services will be conducting the clean-up in some of the busiest areas in the borough. This will include Brick Lane, Shadwell Station, Roman Road Market, and Bethnal Green Road. The full schedule can be found here. Damaged or broken street furniture and traffic infrastructure will also be tended to.

Mayor John Biggs has set aside £250,000 from the borough’s £3 million Covid Recovery Fund to back the clean-up.

The scheme is open to volunteers and meet-up points have been published alongside the scheduled cleaning dates for residents and local business who want to assist in the project.

The council is especially determined to reduce fly-tipping in the borough. In 2021, £464,473 was spent by Tower Hamlets Council in clearing up waste created by fly-tipping.

Earlier this month, a restaurant in Brick Lane was issued with a £1,000 fine and £2,132 in court costs after failing to pay an initial fixed penalty notice of £400 for dumping bags of waste in a local fly-tipping hotspot.

Mayor Biggs said: “We all want people to get rid of their waste legally, but if people do fly-tip, we will always take the strongest action possible…everyone has a part to play in keeping our borough clean.”

The council is keen to encourage residents into helping the effort to reduce fly-tipping, graffiti and littering. Aside from volunteering in the high street clean-up, residents can help to maintain the borough’s cleanliness by reporting public environment issues on the Tower Hamlets’ ‘Love Your Neighbour’ App, available on both Android and Apple devices.