RAPID response street cleaners are to be introduced to York in part of a raft of measures to clean up the city streets.

Councillors yesterday agreed plans to give an extra £160,000 to street cleaning services, which will also target litter, graffiti and weeds in the city.

A total of £52,000 will be spent on the rapid response unit in the next year.

It will comprise two workers and a pick-up vehicle, who will respond to emergency cleaning situations such as street dumping or problems in areas which have already been cleaned.

The unit will also double up to cover less urgent routine works such as cleaning areas blocked by parked cars and problems with leaf fall.

Council leader Dave Merrett said: "These workers should make a real difference to the immediate appearance of the city, and I am sure will be popular with residents."

Another measure introduced in the 12 per cent budget increase for street cleaning services is to set aside £22,000 for the removal of graffiti and fly posters. There is also to be an additional £34,000 spent on the removal of ragwort, litter on grass verges, and on cleaning the River Foss. A contractor will remove ragwort, which is hazardous to many animals, once a year.

Litter problems on busy roads are to be tackled much more frequently.

The outer ring road will now be cleaned every month rather than twice yearly as before, with main routes into the city also seeing an improvement.

The council has also agreed a budget of £30,000 for the removal of chewing gum, if government plans to have this designated as litter are passed.

Updated: 11:08 Saturday, April 05, 2003