Ramsey commissioners have responded to concerns expressed by the Chamber of Trade about the standard of street cleaning in the town.

The Chamber, which represents shopkeepers and business owners, commented that pedestrian areas around the town centre seemed to be ’going downhill’ with staining from dog urine and oily substances appearing, as well as moss growing under benches and around drains.

Photographs were produced showing areas where the sweeper did not appear to have been for some times, as leaves were turning to compost on the road side.

They felt that the current cleaning of all areas of the town was not up to standard and were especially disappointed that the acquisition of a new road sweeper seemed to have had ’minimal impact’.

The commissioners’ chief technical officer, Steve Harrison has responded by explaining that Parliament Street and surrounding area is swept two or three times a week by the street sweeper, while a smaller machine is used four or five times a week for pavements and other pedestrian areas.

’While this level of cleaning is generally suitable for the well-established areas, the new granite- type paving is easily stained and soiled and requires a more intensive cleaning regime, which at present involved the use of a pressure washer with an industrial, circular, patio cleaner to deep-clean the granite slabs,’ he said.

This deep clean was carried out at least twice a year.

Mr Harrison said he had asked the Department of Infrastructure, which was the client for the regeneration area, if there was a specific cleaning procedure or product that would achieve more favourable results than at present.

He added that the lanes connecting Parliament Street and the quay were cleaned every two or three months, as was the pedestrian area around the Courthouse.

Additional staff training was being arranged to supplement the number of staff able to undertake weed spraying as a means of improving performance in this area.