COUNCIL officials who look after streets and parks in Calderdale are going for gold.

Calderdale Council is celebrating after being shortlisted for a renowned local government award by the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE).

The council’s Safer, Cleaner, Greener team is hoping to head to victory in the ‘Best Service Team, Street Cleansing & Streetscene’ award.

The national APSE service awards recognise the very best in frontline service delivery in local government.

Calderdale’s Safer, Cleaner, Greener service looks after 350 hectares of parks, open spaces and gardens and over 400 hectares of countryside.

The team also keeps the borough clean by sweeping roads and footpaths, emptying over 900 litter bins per day, removing graffiti and fly tipping from Council land and providing 24/7 emergency highway response to road traffic accidents, spillages and flooding.

When the Calder Valley was hit by some of the worst flooding ever recorded in the area, the team – along with other council services and partners – was at the heart of the clean up.

Calderdale’s Safer, Cleaner, Greener team worked around the clock to get the devastated towns moving again – sometimes for more than 20 hours at a time.

Clr Pauline Nash, said: “It’s a great honour for Calderdale to be shortlisted for this nationally recognised award.

“I hope the team members are as proud of themselves as I am of them. I never cease to be impressed with their commitment. They are always out working hard for the people of Calderdale, and even during the flooding they kept smiles on their faces.

“Winning the award would be a well-deserved tribute, but to me and the council, they are already winners.”