Knaresborough gets first street ranger

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Knaresborough has employed its first town ranger to undertake jobs that will improve the town centre.

The town council has agreed a six-month contract with Knaresborough landscaping and garden services company OJW Services to trial the role.

The firm is being paid £25 an hour to work for five hours a week.

Clerk Angela Pulman told the Stray Ferret the jobs would range from sweeping up excess leaves and debris and litter picking to sorting out the flagpoles and fixing rotting benches.

She added:

Ms Pulman said councillors would speak to residents about what needs doing but anyone who identified an issue could call the town council directly on 01423864080 and report it, although she highlighted the need to “manage expectations” about what could be achieved at this stage. “We already have a long list,” she said.

Street rangers are increasingly common in town centres due to declining council funds. Harrogate Business Improvement District, which is funded by town centre businesses, doubled its number of street rangers from one to two this year.