Council teams gear up for annual leaf clearance operation

More than 600 tonnes of leaves will be collected from roads, pavements and public spaces across Cheshire West and Chester over the coming weeks as the Council's annual leaf clearance operation gets underway.

Throughout autumn and winter, dedicated teams will be working across the borough using a combination of mechanical and manual sweepers to keep streets clean, reduce the risk of slips and falls, and help prevent flooding caused by blocked drains and gullies.

The operation covers roads, footways, parks and other public areas, with priority given to locations with large numbers of mature trees, areas where leaves have accumulated and become wet and compacted, and known flood-risk hotspots.

Leaf clearance plays an important role in helping to protect communities from localised flooding. Fallen leaves can quickly block drains, gullies and grids, particularly during periods of heavy rain. The Council's Highways service maintains around 85,000 highway gullies across the borough, with additional work taking place throughout the autumn months to help keep drainage systems flowing freely.

The Council's fleet of sweepers will be hard at work this autumn, including its named compact sweepers. Residents may spot vehicles such as the Leafborghini and Taylor Sweep out and about as they help tackle the seasonal clear-up.

The amount and timing of leaf fall varies from year to year depending on weather conditions, including rainfall, wind and frost. Larger sweepers can collect between four and six tonnes of leaves at a time, while smaller vehicles can carry around one to one-and-a-half tonnes, depending on how wet the leaves are.

Councillor Stuart Bingham, Cheshire West and Chester Council's Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Neighbourhood Pride, said:

"Autumn brings beautiful colours to our streets, parks and neighbourhoods, but it also creates a significant clean-up challenge.

"Our teams work hard throughout the season to keep roads and pavements clear, make journeys safer and help prevent drainage problems caused by fallen leaves.

"Heavy leaf fall can happen very quickly, particularly after windy weather, and we would ask residents to take extra care when walking on wet or compacted leaves.

"We also appreciate the support we receive from residents and community groups. By working together and taking simple steps such as clearing leaves from road gullies where it is safe to do so, we can help reduce the risk of standing water and localised flooding."

Many residents and community groups lend a hand during the annual leaf-clearing season, and the Council is grateful for their support. If you notice leaves covering road gullies or highway drains, please consider clearing them where it is safe to do so. However, please do not blow leaves onto roads, pavements or other parts of the public highway, as this can create hazards and block drains.