Residents, visitors and businesses in Banbury are set to see a cleaner town centre thanks to additional weekend street cleaning funded through Cherwell District Council's Local Area Development Fund.
Published: Thursday, 17th September 2026
The enhanced cleaning programme, which began earlier this month, follows a recommendation from the Banbury Area Oversight Group and was approved by the council's Executive in July.
The funding will support a trial of increased street-cleaning provision from September 2026 to March 2027, including additional weekend cleaning hours and two deep clean events.
The initiative is the first phase of the Banbury town centre revitalisation "Look and Feel" project, which aims to enhance the town centre’s appearance, improve the experience of visitors and businesses, and support the town's wider economic vitality.
Councillor Lesley McLean, Leader of the Council, said: "We know how important a clean and welcoming town centre is for residents, businesses and visitors. This additional investment will help improve the look and feel of Banbury town centre at some of its busiest times, particularly at weekends and during the run-up to Christmas.
"The scheme has been developed following feedback from local councillors and stakeholders through the Banbury Area Oversight Group, and I am pleased that we are now able to begin this trial. We will be monitoring the results closely over the coming months as part of our wider ambitions to enhance and support the town centre."
The trial has been funded through a £21,500 allocation from the Local Area Development Fund for 2026/27. The project was unanimously recommended by councillors attending the Banbury Area Oversight Group meeting in June.
Councillor Ian Middleton, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Greener Communities, said: "Keeping Banbury town centre clean, welcoming and attractive is a real team effort. Our street cleansing crews work incredibly hard throughout the year, often behind the scenes, and they are supported by a range of community organisations, businesses and local partners who all take pride in the town.
"This project supports Cherwell District Council's commitment to environmental stewardship. By investing in cleaner public spaces, we are making positive choices today that help safeguard our district for future generations and contribute to our vision of a greener, cleaner and more sustainable Cherwell.
“We can also all help to keep our public spaces clean and tidy by ensuring we dispose of litter responsibly into the bins provided. This reduces the workload on our staff and demonstrates civic pride in our high streets and shared spaces."
The enhanced service will focus on periods of higher footfall, including the busy pre-Christmas trading period. It will also include additional weekend street cleansing, alongside two intensive deep-clean operations, before the end of March 2027.
The project is expected to help improve cleanliness, reduce litter, enhance perceptions of the town centre and create a more attractive and appealing place for visitors, shoppers and local businesses.