Thousands of Guinness bottles and shamrock hats are set to be cleared from the West End
Westminster Council’s street cleaning crews prepare to clear up after the St Patrick’s Day Parade.
Now in its fourteenth year, the St Patrick’s Day Parade will see central London turn a sea of green as thousands of revellers, dancers and marching bands weave their way through the heart of the West End before arriving in Trafalgar Square for a festival of Irish music, food and dancing.
A crew of Westminster City Council street cleaners and three mechanical sweepers will be following closely behind to ensure the route can be reopened as soon as possible.
After last year’s event saw record crowds, the Council is deploying an extra team of Veolia staff to clear up after the main event in Trafalgar Square.
The clear-up will begin at 6pm as soon as the revellers have dispersed and is expected to finish within two hours.
Cllr Richard Beddoe, Westminster City Council cabinet member for city management, said:
“Trafalgar Square will be awash with green this Sunday as tens of thousands of people come out to take part in the St Patrick’s Day Parade. The capital’s Irish population certainly know how to party, and there will doubtless be more than a few Guinnesses consumed in the West End.
“Any event of this size poses a challenge, but our street cleaning teams are experts in returning the streets to their previous condition after the crowds have moved on. I am certain that once our crews have worked their magic there won’t be a shamrock in sight.”
Vincent Masseri, Veolia's Contract Manager in Westminster, said:
“After the fun and festivities have finished we have our very own Green Parade working quickly yet thoroughly to ensure the streets of Westminster are returned to their usual high standards of cleanliness.”
ENDS