Douglas Borough Council is continuing to make positive progress in maintaining high cleansing maintenance levels across the town.

Results from the latest District Local Environmental Quality (DLEQ) survey – a Keep Britain Tidy initiative that works with local authorities to measure a set of environmental elements and compare them with national benchmarks – show that overall Douglas is equal to or above national standards in 12 of the 13 elements measured.

The 13 DLEQ elements are litter, detritus, recent leaf fall, weed growth, staining, fly-tipping, fly-posting, graffiti, cleanliness, condition and degree of fill of litter bins, and landscaping litter and maintenance.

Council leader David Christian (pictured) said, "These latest results are extremely encouraging and evidence the Council’s determination to maintain high levels of cleanliness across the town, despite the financial constraints imposed on us due to the current economic downturn.

"Local authority participation in DLEQ surveys is mandatory in the UK, but not in the Isle of Man. However, as an environmentally responsible Council, we choose to conduct these surveys as a means to benchmark our performance and identify areas where resources need to be targeted.

"The survey shows we have made significant improvements in relation to weed growth,  and the frequency with which we empty our litter bins has resulted in our achieving a higher score than the national average in the degree of fill for litter bins category.

"Importantly, the Council has also achieved scores consistently rated 'good' for fly-tipping, fly-posting and graffiti, all three surpassing the national standard.

"Equally encouraging is that of the 13 elements measured, none was assessed as 'poor'.

"Clearly the Council is making great strides in maintaining and raising environmental standards.  I am particularly heartened by the progress we have made in combating litter and the fact that incidences of dog fouling were found to be just below the national average.

"However, despite the best efforts of our cleansing teams, who are to be congratulated on their diligence, smoking and fast food-related litter remain areas of particular concern.

"Against this background if we are to continue to raise environmental standards in the town everyone - residents, visitors and businesses – must work in partnership to foster a sense of civic pride so that together we can develop a community response to achieving a cleaner, greener Douglas."

Jo Whitaker from Keep Britain Tidy said, "We have worked closely with Douglas Borough Council over the last year and are delighted to see real improvements in the quality of the local environment. 

"The Council takes the matter of cleanliness very seriously and we applaud their hard work in creating a better environment for everyone who lives and works in the area. 

"The problem of litter and other environmental crimes is a costly and unsightly one that can be detrimental to the whole community.  These results show that through hard work improvements can be made, benefiting everyone."

Inspector Ken Kneale, chairman of the Douglas Community Safety Partnership (DCSP), was encouraged by the Council’s commitment to ensure issues that affect quality of life within Douglas are addressed: "There is an inextricable link between quality of life and the local infrastructure, including the elements within this survey. 

"By ensuring that matters highlighted in the environmental quality surveys receive attention, the Council is maximising its effectiveness and making a significant contribution to the overall aim of the DCSP to improve life quality within Douglas.

"It is much easier to monitor and value things which are measured – in that way improvements can be made and success or otherwise measured again at a future date. 

"It also sends out a clear signal that we are all aiming to ensure Douglas remains a place that is well maintained and attractive".

The Douglas Community Safety Partnership is committed to reducing environmental litter, prompting Inspector Kneale to comment that all of the agencies ‘around the Partnership table’ will be looking to mitigate the effects of fast food, cigarettes and dog fouling that have been highlighted as problematic.

In particular, he asked that the community help identify persistent offenders and areas so that targeted action by a range of agencies can be used to best effect in reducing the problem and dealing with the offenders.