NEW rapid response crews will respond to urgent requests for street cleansing and grounds maintenance across the borough, Dudley Council has announced.

Three dedicated rapid response crews have been introduced by the council to deal with issues as and when they identify them while travelling through the borough.

The new crews will respond to daily reactive requests that come in through Dudley Council Plus such as the removal of fly-tipping or broken glass or the clearance of overgrown vegetation.

This will enable other street scene teams, responsible for routine maintenance, to focus on scheduled work.

Councillor Damian Corfield, cabinet member for highways and environment services, said: “We are improving the way we run our street cleansing and grounds maintenance services.

“These new rapid response teams can deal with reactive daily requests and leave our other crews to get on with routine work.

“This means we can provide a more responsive and efficient service, delivering the best for our residents.”