New Street Care Rangers introduced to support ‘cleaner neighbourhoods’ priority
Chelmsford City Council has announced its new Street Care Ranger service, focused on improving the appearance, safety, and accessibility of local streets and public spaces.
The rangers, part of the council’s Street Care team, began work in July and are already making a visible difference across the district.
‘Before and after’ photos show the impact of the rangers’ work.
‘Before and after’ photos show the impact of the rangers’ work.
‘Before and after’ photos show the impact of the rangers’ work.
The introduction of Street Care Rangers is a positive step for local communities following the withdrawal of the Highway Rangers service, previously funded by Essex County Council. While the Street Care Rangers service does differ in some ways from that of the Highway Rangers, it will support Chelmsford City Council’s bid to prioritise a cleaner and healthier city.
Working for cleaner and healthier communities
Earlier this year, a new Cabinet position was introduced to make sure that fostering a cleaner and healthier city remains a priority for Chelmsford City Council over the next two years – the current administration’s remaining term and the organisation’s final tenure before it is replaced by a new unitary authority following Local Government Reorganisation.
Councillor Simon Goldman, who holds that new position as Cabinet Deputy for Cleaner Communities, says the Street Care Rangers are an important step in the right direction.
““Residents deserve clean, safe, and attractive streets, and our new Street Care Rangers are helping us deliver exactly that. The work they do makes a real difference to local people – cutting back vegetation and tidying footpaths means that everyday cut-throughs remain accessible, while maintenance like painting village gates and cleaning street name plates strengthens the sense of pride residents have in their surroundings.
Councillor Simon Goldman, Cabinet Deputy for Cleaner Communities
“In the council’s 2026/27 budget, specific funding was allocated to make the introduction of Street Care Rangers possible, and further funding was set aside for additional dog waste bins, many of which have now been installed, with more to come. These changes, along with the great work of our established Street Care team, will contribute to keeping Chelmsford district clean, accessible and welcoming.”
What Street Care Rangers do
The rangers help keep neighbourhoods welcoming and accessible for residents and visitors, by carrying out small scale environmental and maintenance tasks. The team have a regular schedule of work and can also be called on by parish councils if there are things they need help with locally.
Street Care Rangers’ tasks include:
Vegetation cutting and general tidying of footpaths
Basic maintenance of parish seating
Cleaning street name plates and ‘welcome to’ village signs
Painting village gates and structures
And, if your parish hosts a Love Your Parish Day, it will be the rangers who come along to complete the works.
Essentially, the work Street Care Rangers do falls outside of the city council’s statutory obligations. The rangers have been introduced to pick up the tasks that tend to ‘fall through the cracks’ and leave residents feeling frustrated.
Work so far
Since July, the Rangers have documented some of their work with ‘before and after’ photos. Take a scroll through to see the transformation of neglected paths, refreshed signage, and cleared walk-ways:
Since the service launched in July, Street Care Rangers have been busy working across the district.
Since the service launched in July, Street Care Rangers have been busy working across the district.
Since the service launched in July, Street Care Rangers have been busy working across the district.
Since the service launched in July, Street Care Rangers have been busy working across the district.
Since the service launched in July, Street Care Rangers have been busy working across the district.
Since the service launched in July, Street Care Rangers have been busy working across the district.
Since the service launched in July, Street Care Rangers have been busy working across the district.
More information
Love Your Parish Days are the best way for parish councils to benefit from the Street Care Rangers service. The days are available to all parishes within Chelmsford district, and requests can be submitted to Love Your Chelmsford.
Parish councils are encouraged to identify priority locations, such as overgrown footpaths, dirty signage, or tired village gateways ahead of time, so the rangers can target areas that will benefit residents most.
It’s also possible to request the service of Street Care Rangers directly through the Chelmsford City Council website via our Report a Street Problem page.
Please note, there are certain tasks that cannot be completed by Street Care Rangers:
Replacement or repair of road signs
Repairs to pavements, kerbs or roads
Large scale vegetation works
Weed spraying
Any requests for these services should be directed to Essex County Council.
Invitations for Love Your Parish Days are sent by Love Your Chelmsford to Parish Council Clerks annually. If you are part of a parish council and would like to know more about Love Your Parish Days, please give the team a call on 01245 606606 or email loveyourchelmsford@chelmsford.gov.uk.
