City gardens cleaned up thanks to initiative

A targeted estate management initiative is helping to improve the appearance of neighbourhoods across Stoke-on-Trent.

It has seen more than 1,100 cases of untidy gardens identified and action taken during a citywide inspection programme.

Last month Estate Officers carried out inspections across the whole city, identifying 1,103 properties where garden conditions fell below the expected standard.

The initiative forms part of a new process aimed at delivering quicker, more consistent action to address garden maintenance issues and improve the overall appearance of estates.

Under the new approach, Estate Officers record breaches while carrying out inspections and deliver warning letters to residents immediately. Tenants are then given 21 days to bring gardens back to an acceptable standard before follow-up inspections take place.