City charter promises clean sweep

At last something is going to be done about Dublin's dirty streets, even if it is going to cost the city a packet. Lord Mayor Maurice Ahern, along with the Garda Siochana and the Henry Street/Mary Street Partnership, co-signed a charter yesterday to ensure a clean sweep of the streets. It coincides with the launch of the Street Washer, a high-powered washing machine for the city. It can wash streets up to eight feet wide, as well as paths, walls and laneways at high pressure and up to 10 miles per hour. It could, for example, pull up at the side of the Millennium Bridge and give it a good head to toe cleaning without moving a vehicle. According to Dublin Corporation, it has an 8,000 litre water tank which disperses water at up to 100 litres per minute. This high-powered machine costs over £100,000 and has been leased by the Corpo for five years.