Residents named Chelmsford's three new street cleaners Dustfree Springfield, Anglia Dustin and Vac Sparrow. Here is what each does and how to request help.

Chelmsford’s three newest street-cleaning vehicles are called Dustfree Springfield, Anglia Dustin and Vac Sparrow. Residents chose the names in a council competition.

Chelmsford City Council asked people to suggest names in June. They sent in 128. A shortlist of ten included Dustbin Hoffman, Moulsham Sweep and Orlando Broom before the three winners were picked (Chelmsford City Council).

The winners were invited to Freighter House, the council’s waste and recycling depot, on Thursday 29 October. Councillor Simon Goldman, the cabinet deputy for cleaner communities, gave them a prize and a certificate. The council has not said who the winners are.

What each vehicle does

  • Dustfree Springfield and Anglia Dustin are compact road sweepers, with brushes and pressure washers.
  • Vac Sparrow is a jet tanker. It uses water jets and vacuum hoses for deeper cleaning.

All three have now joined the council’s street cleaning fleet.

“The creativity of Chelmsford residents certainly made us smile,” Cllr Goldman said.

The Street Care Rangers

The vehicles back up the council’s Street Care team and its new Street Care Rangers, who started in July. The rangers take on small jobs that parish councils, ward councillors and members of the public ask for. The council lists them as:

  • cutting back vegetation and tidying footpaths
  • basic maintenance of parish seating
  • cleaning street name plates and “welcome to” village signs
  • painting village gates and structures

None of this is work the council has to do by law. It set aside money in its 2026/27 budget to start the service after Essex County Council withdrew its Highway Rangers team, the council says.

What it means for you