With autumn well and truly under way, Ealing Council’s street-sweeping teams will be tackling the seasonal increase in autumn leaves, ensuring that roads and pavements around important public places are as safe as possible for residents.

The council has reviewed the locations where leaf fall is at its heaviest and will target these areas for a period of up to 10 weeks. Street-sweeping teams will prioritise the clear-up of fallen leaves in areas outside schools, hospitals and day centres where the borough’s most vulnerable residents may be walking.

This will be followed by shopping areas and public transport stations, then steep hills with slippery surfaces, and then other streets where heavy leaf fall could block drains and create a flood risk.

In addition, normal scheduled cleansing of streets will still be carried out with extra mobile teams and staff, some with leaf blowers, so that other reported leafy streets can be identified for cleaning as quickly as possible.

Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure, said: “Ealing is rightly recognised as one of the greenest, most attractive borough’s in the capital with tree-lined streets and beautiful parks. This means we often get a high volume of fallen leaves at this time of year.

“Fallen leaves can become slippery in wet weather. The extra resources mean we can get to the problem areas quicker and respond to areas identified as a priority. We will be concentrating on keeping residents safe this autumn by tackling the high traffic areas, schools and places visited by some of our most vulnerable residents.”

Residents can also request emergency clearances in areas that have become congested and slippery through the build-up of leaves or the possibility of flooding. This can be done by calling 020 8825 6000 or via a 24/7 app, accessed through Ealing Council’s MyAccount portal, or through your normal app provider.

To coincide with the increase in autumn leaves, residents are being reminded that the council offers a fortnightly chargeable garden waste collection service. Visit www.ealing.gov.uk/gardenwaste for further details.

The council is also offering residents reduced cost compost bins to help them recycle garden waste to produce their own compost, with prices starting at £17.98, plus delivery. Order your compost bin at www.ealing.getcomposting.com or call 0845 130 60 90 for more information.