Brighton’s streets received a significant makeover along one section of West Street, transforming the pathway between the city centre and coastline.

Labour councillor Tim Rowkins informed colleagues that a section of footway had undergone partial restoration as workers cleared away accumulated grime and debris.

The surface now displays a rich golden-brown tone, while the opposite side remains caked with dirt and chewing gum residue, he noted.

The overnight cleaning operation formed part of a trial initiative, Cllr Rowkins explained to fellow members during a gathering at Hove Town Hall on Thursday (March 19).

Starting in May, external contractors will broaden the scope of night-time pressure-washing and intensive cleaning across Brighton’s central district, supplementing the work already carried out by the council’s daytime cleaning crews.

Brighton and Hove City Council’s cabinet approved the contractor engagement following a programme dubbed the Station to the Sea – Test and Learn Pilot in an official report.

The intensive cleaning initiative will be financed through a three-year funding allocation of £250,000 annually, initially targeting the transitional zone connecting the railway station with the seafront.

The zone encompasses the North Laine, The Lanes, Western Road and St James’s Street, with potential extension to additional streets where necessary.

The council is also acquiring specialist machinery for tackling graffiti and is exploring the possibility of establishing its own commercial graffiti elimination service to generate revenue.

Cllr Rowkins, the council’s portfolio holder for environmental services and net zero, reported that numerous residents had urged the authority to enhance the area’s visual appeal and cleanliness.

Brighton and Hove receives approximately 12 million annual visitors, yet critics have argued that insufficient effort has been made to maintain the cleanliness of frequently used thoroughfares.

Over the previous twelve months, forty new waste receptacles have been positioned throughout the area, along with ten designated cigarette bins, with a further fifty-seven communal bins planned for installation. Uncollected bicycles have been cleared away and roughly one thousand adhesive labels removed from hard surfaces.

Cllr Rowkins noted that many of these twelve million visitors travel to the city by rail and frequently, particularly those from further inland, their first priority upon arrival is heading to the beach.

In his assessment, the initial impression of departing the railway station and proceeding towards the seafront along Queen’s Road and West Street has not consistently been an enjoyable experience.

He expressed that he harbours substantial ambitions for how that route might eventually appear, but the primary objective was achieving an immediate, noticeable improvement.

Labour councillor Birgit Miller, the council’s cabinet member responsible for culture, heritage and tourism, indicated that accommodation and catering establishments had expressed enthusiasm regarding the enhanced cleaning proposals.

The funding allocation for night-time cleaning services is scheduled for reassessment following a three-year period.