East Hampshire council chief Richard Millard is putting the squeeze on under-fire waste contractor Norse South East to "get the district looking as good as it should be" over the next two months.

The Headley councillor and district council leader has today (Friday) launched a district-wide Spring Clean Campaign that he says "will get East Hampshire looking its best".

Cllr Millard said: "I am not happy with the way the district’s looking at the moment - and I know you aren’t either. 

"That’s why we are working with our service provider Norse South East to plough extra resources into a special clean-up campaign to get the district looking as good as it should be over the next two months."

Starting on March 1, Cllr Millard says residents will not only see more staff out on the district's streets picking up litter, pulling up weeds and tidying up our town centres, but there will also be more road-side sweepers scooping up leaves, more grounds-maintenance staff and cleaner car parks.

He continued: "We will have EHDC and Norse SE staff out in the district and you will see neater cemeteries, grass being cut and weed-free shrub-beds. 

"As well as this, we are applying for licenses so we can arrange litter-picking on the A31 and the A3. 

"We’re privileged to live in such a beautiful part of the country, and it’s vitally important that we look after it properly. So, we are doubling the resources we have on street cleaning duties. 

"You will see our teams out and about in your home towns and villages and you will be able to see the difference they make. 

"We are going to get East Hampshire looking great again."

East Hampshire's Spring Clean Campaign will give the district a head start on the annual Great British Spring Clean run by Keep Britain Tidy which kicks off on March 17. 

Through that national campaign, the council will support community-spirited residents who wish to organise their own litter-picks. More information is promised later in March.