With picture: Left to right Gary Brownbridge, Streetscene and Fleet Manager, Lichfield District Council; Councillor Eadie, Lichfield DC Cabinet Minister for Waste Management; and Nigel Harris, General Manager- Joint Waste Service

Lichfield & Tamworth Joint Waste Service have begun taking delivery of a replacement fleet of 22 new vehicles that will start collecting recycling and waste from 76,000 homes across Lichfield District and Tamworth Borough.

The delivery of the vehicles has followed a competitive tendering process, which saw Specialist Fleet Services Ltd (SFS) chosen as the service’s vehicle provider. This is a new customer for SFS and the contract includes the maintenance of the vehicles via Lichfield District Council’s existing workshop facilities.

Councillor Iain Eadie, Cabinet Member for Waste Management at Lichfield District Council, commented: “It’s great to see the new fleet of waste, recycling and street cleansing vehicles arrive. The trucks are more compact, making them easier to manoeuvre, as well as being more fuel efficient due to their latest clean burn Euro 6 engines. They also have the latest safety packages, including cycle awareness and a 360-degree camera system, as well as various other driver aids. We will put them to good use over the next six years, taking away waste and recycling, helping to keep Lichfield and Tamworth tidy.”

Councillor Michelle Thurgood, Cabinet Member for Housing and Waste Management at Tamworth Borough Council, said: “I am delighted to see these new vehicles have been delivered and I look forward to seeing them on our streets. These are essential bits of kit and along with the teams responsible, do an amazing job at keeping Tamworth and Lichfield looking lovely.”

The six-year contract hire agreement commences this month, with the option to extend for an additional six years, and involves the provision of 22 vehicles for the councils’ shared Joint Waste Service’s refuse, recycling and street cleansing fleet.

The new vehicles comprise 18 x 26- tonne Mercedes/Faun Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCV), three DAF/NTM and one Mitsubishi/Faun 7.5 RCV.

Northampton-based SFS has over 20 years experience in delivering successful contract hire, fleet and workshop management solutions to the public and private sector. Within day one of the start of the contract SFS had already established on-site capacity at Lichfield, with the delivery of 16 new RCV’s, and the workshops cleaned, repainted and new equipment installed. The remaining six vehicles will be delivered over the course of the next few months.

Bob Sweetland, Managing Director, SFS said: “This was an unusual roll-out as it involved a transition from the previous two operators, who vacated at midnight, to the new SFS fleet, all within 24 hours.  We are delighted to say that the delivery and mobilisation of the vehicles went very well and was on schedule. We will be working closely with the Joint Waste Service to ensure a smooth transition and making sure that the crews are fully trained on all aspects of the new vehicles’ operation.”

For more information about Specialist Fleet Services tel: 01604 234601, email [email protected] or visit www.sfs.co.uk

ENDS.