THE war on litter in Huddersfield is a bitter one.

But every day, teams of Kirklees Council workers arm themselves for battle.

The Examiner invited readers to name grotty town centre areas in our Clean Up The Town Campaign.

Many called for more council action to tackle litter, graffiti and neglect.

Kirklees Council street wardens, a part-time graffiti squad, street sweepers and members of the highways service were hard at work early Thursday morning.

In the subway between Huddersfield Technical College and Trinity Street, two highways workers were cleaning graffiti off walls which had been cleaned only last Sunday.

They do this only when the graffiti squad are busy - their usual tasks include fixing problems like faulty pavements and fly posting.

But graffiti is so rife that highways teams now help out daily.

Supervisor Mr Kenny Craven said:

"They have got a lot else to get on with. They do their best but they have no chance. If they are here cleaning, someone will be doing damage elsewhere."

He said he thought a full-time graffiti squad was needed.

At present, the part-time squad is two men from Kirklees Building Services, diverted from normal duties to tackle graffiti with a pressure washer and sanders.

Clinton Wilby and Brian Daniel had a list of graffiti to clean on Thursday taking them to Bradley Community Centre, Sheepridge, Golcar, Holmfirth, Batley and Meltham.

The pair said cleaning graffiti took up a lot of their time.

Mr Wilby said: "We can be there the best part of the day and after that they put it back on.

"Some even come up and say you are wasting your time while you are removing it.

"It is a bit soul-destroying."

Street warden Ian Morelli started his early Thursday morning patrol near the subway.

He had already scanned the town centre for litter, graffiti and damage.

He said: "We like to get out before members of the public find litter and lots of graffiti."

Later on, street wardens patrol the town, looking for litter louts, graffiti artists, anti-social behaviour and damage.

Mr Morelli said: "During the day the main problem is litter. Graffiti is the biggest problem overall."

He added: "With the resources we have, I think everybody's doing their best."

Harry Beaumont drives a sweeping vehicle full time.

He is one of a team of three drivers and two manual litter collectors.

They in turn are part of a 129-strong team which cleans Kirklees towns up to four times a day, emptying 4,246 bins.

Mr Beaumont said litter was increasing, partly due to large numbers of nightclub fliers. "They need to enforce laws against dropping litter. The public need re-educating. It is a habit they must get out of," he said.

Clr David Payne, cabinet member for environment and transportation, said the council's priority was tackling litter and graffiti.

They have also put some cash in features such as flower beds.

He said:

"Businesses don't want to locate anywhere that doesn't look good. That is why it is high on our agenda.

"The next areas we will really think about are graffiti, fly tipping, and fly posting."

He said that although people have spotted grotty areas, in general the town was clean and workers did a good job.

He said most of the £3m cleansing budget went on litter removal. Extra cash was being used to blitz the town centre and test out new machines and strategies for tackling litter and graffiti.

"They are all doing their best. I hope the public recognises the work that gets done.

"Dumping litter is illegal, anti-social and irresponsible."

The council is enforcing new legislation to fine motorists and pedestrians for dropping litter.

Businesses such as takeaways are being forced to clear litter from their frontages.

He said people should report people spotted creating litter or graffiti to Ross Streetcare on 0800 731 8765.

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