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Summer of Action brings improvements to Wakefield city centre

Monday, October 05, 2026

Our Summer of Action has delivered a cleaner, safer and more welcoming city centre, after a programme of focused effort by the Council and partners.

Working with Wakefield BID and West Yorkshire Police, we’ve concentrated on the things that make a real difference to people’s experience of the city centre.

"Over the summer, we’ve focussed on getting the basis right.

“From cleaner streets and improved roads to tackling anti-social behaviour, this has been about dealing with the issues people see and feel. There’s more to do, but these initial improvements are a positive step towards creating a place people can be proud of."

Cllr Karl Johnson

Leader of Wakefield Council

Cllr Karl Johnson, Leader of Wakefield Council

Highways work has included:

  • Resurfacing key routes including Wood Street, Westgate and Marygate

  • Repainting road markings around the city centre to improve road safety

  • Improving the pedestrianised area of Silver Street

  • Reusing materials to improve other locations across the city centre

Teams have also been busy giving streets and public spaces some extra attention, including:

  • Deep cleaning, jet washing and sweeping key areas

  • Increasing litter picking

  • Removing and trimming back overgrown vegetation

We’ve worked alongside local businesses and West Yorkshire Police to tackle anti-social behaviour. Targeted enforcement days have focused on issues including street drinking, begging, fly-tipping and breaches of the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).

The Summer of Action was a pilot project and its success means that planning is now underway to roll it out across the district’s towns.

Cllr Johnson added: “This is just the start. We’ve seen the positive difference this focused work can make. And will be bringing the same approach to our towns right across the district.

“Our residents and businesses deserve a cleaner, safer and more welcoming district and that’s what we will deliver.”

For more information about the Summer of Action, please visit: Wakefield Summer of Action - Wakefield Council

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