Scotland's first mobile rapid response cleansing teams are being deployed in communities across Glasgow.

The new squads will begin their work - tackling fly tipping, litter and other environmental damage.

An army of 45 additional Clean Glasgow operatives will swing into action across the city as the city council moves its award-winning campaign onto the next level.

Working closely with enforcement staff and responding to intelligence from the neighbourhoods in which they will be based, the 15 Clean Glasgow Rapid Response Teams will be charged with delivering flexible and responsive front-line services to communities.

Three teams will be based in each of Glasgow’s five Community Health & Care Partnership areas.

Councillor Steven Purcell, the Leader of Glasgow City Council, met with the new teams shortly before they took to the streets.

-- Advertisement --

He said: "Clean Glasgow is built on a partnership with our communities and a shared responsibility for our environment – at home and around the city.

"I have been delighted with the response so far and the commitment that all of us - individuals, businesses and council services - have made to Glasgow as a clean, safe city.

"Our Rapid Response Teams will allow us to respond more promptly to community concerns and will link closely with a very strong network of friends and volunteers that have been mobilised and empowered by the Clean Glasgow campaign."

Each Rapid Response Team has a crew of three, including a driver, and will respond to calls and complaints made to Clean Glasgow, the council’s Access Centre and local teams.

They will also receive information from Neighbourhood Improvement Volunteers - community representatives recruited as champions for Clean Glasgow.

Tasks carried out by the Rapid Response Teams will include dealing with litter in open spaces; removing tipped, and safely uplifting hypodermic needles.

In all cases, they will work closely with Glasgow City Council environmental health enforcement officers, in order to identify the source of litter and other environmental damage.

Crews will also carry out a variety of other work to enhance and maintain the environment within their communities, such as cleaning streets and street furniture, clearing lanes and overgrown vegetation.

(GK/JM)