Street cleaners up for award

3:47pm Friday 9th May 2008

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A crack team of street cleaners who keep Oxford's pathways clean of syringes, vomit and excrement have been nominated for a top award.

Oxford City Council's Area A town centre cleansing unit have been nominated for Team of the Year at the National Council Workers awards for their work cleaning up the effects of drug misuse and homelessness.

Michael Belcher and Leo de Goris Jedrzejowski beat off competition from 130 other nominations to secure a place alongside five other finalists with the winners to be decided by votes from members of the public.

The unit was nominated by Thames Valley Police for its work in cases, including the dismantling of Tent City', an illegal camp erected on the Thames towpath in Osney in July last year.

The group also cleaned up after drug use in Luther Street and Botley Road.

Mr de Goris Jedrzejowski, leader of the team, said: "We're delighted with the nomination. The team deserve this recognition because they work hard and some of the work can be pretty grim.

"We have to deal with excrement, dirty bedding, puddles of vomit and used syringes. When it's a public safety issue we move as quickly as we can to clean it up. Contracting hepatitis is the worst risk, but our chaps know what they're doing and want to stop any risk of infection for members of the public.

"At Tent City they had built a very solid encampment out of timber, but we had to take it down and clear up all the rubbish and refuse from the site.

"It is a tough job to do that. Even though they did not legally have a right to be there you are still taking away someone's home."

Chief executive Peter Sloman said "I think the residents of Oxford should be proud that we have a team that has been recognised nationally as providing a great service."

To vote for the team go to localgovernmentchannel.com/awards or text L'GATV 6 Oxford' to 80039.

The winners will be announced on July 3.