Summer of action to smarten up Wakefield city centre
Thursday, July 09, 2026
Throughout the summer Wakefield Council will be taking action to smarten up Wakefield city centre.
This includes a programme of highways improvements, stepping up of day-to-day maintenance across the city centre and increased enforcement activity.
“Residents and businesses deserve a clean, safe and welcoming city centre.
“Getting this right is at the heart of how we can build a sense of positivity and momentum across our district.
"We're bringing together highways, cleansing, environmental enforcement, community safety teams and the Police to tackle the issues residents tell us matter most. Not just investing in the appearance of the city but addressing behaviours that negatively affect residents, businesses and visitors.
“We want to make all our urban centres welcoming, clean, and safe places to visit. To encourage more footfall, boost local spending and help our local economy to grow and create more opportunities for local people.
“We know bigger changes are needed for the future. While we develop longer-term plans, we’re starting with immediate improvements people will see and feel now.”
Cllr Karl Johnson
Leader of Wakefield Council
Planned action over the summer includes road resurfacing on key routes including Wood Street, Westgate and Marygate. Repainting road markings around the city centre to improve road safety. And improvements to the pedestrianised Silver Street, with materials reused to upgrade other areas in the city.
There will be increased street and pavement cleaning, refreshing of bins and signage, graffiti removal and proactive engagement with businesses and residents to improve waste management and environmental standards.
Danny Critchley, Wakefield BID Manager, said: “Creating a Wakefield that we can all be proud of takes genuine partnership working. We welcome this commitment from Wakefield Council and look forward to working alongside the Council, West Yorkshire Police, businesses and partners across the city centre to deliver positive improvements that benefit everyone.
“By working together, we can help create a better, brighter and busier Wakefield – a city centre that is clean, safe, welcoming and thriving for businesses, residents and visitors alike. We know that strong partnerships are key to achieving long-term success, and we're excited to play our part in supporting this shared vision for our city."
Residents and businesses will see an increased presence of Council enforcement and Police officers in the city centre throughout the summer. This visible presence will help act on anti-social behaviour, improve public confidence, and support businesses operating in the city centre.
The Council's Enforcement Officers will be working alongside West Yorkshire Police on targeted days of action across the city centre. These operations will focus on addressing anti-social behaviour, street drinking, environmental crime, fly-tipping, waste-related offences, begging and breaches of the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO). Helping to create a safer, cleaner, and more welcoming environment for residents, visitors, and businesses.
To find out more, visit www.wakefield.gov.uk/summerofaction