CAR PARK CLEANING & HAZARD REMOVAL
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council - Ebbw Vale Multi Storey Car Park, Ebbw Vale, NP23
Client's Challenge
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council required an urgent, high-impact cleaning programme for a multi-storey car park in Ebbw Vale that had become a prominent town-centre eyesore.
The structure was heavily affected by offensive graffiti, widespread algae and moss growth creating slip hazards on floors, steps and walkways, and extensive chewing gum build-up throughout pedestrian areas. Years of weathering and ingrained grime had further degraded the appearance of the building, generating complaints from shoppers, businesses and visitors.
The car park had also become a focal point for anti-social behaviour, and the council required a specialist contractor capable of restoring safety, cleanliness and visual appearance within a live public environment, while managing pedestrian and vehicle safety throughout the works.
Assessment & Planning
APT ICC carried out a full site survey to assess:
• Levels of ingrained dirt, biological growth and surface contamination
• Slip risks across pedestrian routes, stairwells and circulation areas
• Extent and type of graffiti across internal and external surfaces
• Suitability of high-pressure jetting versus targeted chemical treatment
• Access requirements for high-level walls, stair cores and restricted areas
• Public safety risks within a live, town-centre environment
Following consultation with the council, a structured cleaning and restoration programme was developed. The approach prioritised rapid visual transformation, hazard reduction and public safety, combining high-pressure jetting with targeted treatments for algae, graffiti and chewing gum.
Methodology
The car park restoration was delivered using a staged, controlled
process:
1. High-pressure jetting to remove ingrained grime, dirt and surface contamination across floors, walls, ramps and circulation areas.
2. Targeted graffiti removal to internal and external wall surfaces, eliminating offensive markings and shadowing.
3. Algae and moss treatments applied to floors, steps and walkways to reduce slip hazards and restore surface safety.
4. Chewing gum removal carried out throughout the structure using specialist products and selective soda blasting where deposits were heavily ingrained.
5. Minor painting and redecoration to damaged walls and doors to improve overall presentation.
6. Drain clearing and cleaning to reinstate safe surface water flow and reduce future contamination risks.
This structured approach ensured the car park was restored safely, efficiently and visibly.
Site Access & Logistics
Equipment
• High-pressure jetting systems
• Soda blasting equipment (selective chewing gum removal)
• Scaffolding for high-level access
Chemicals
• Algae Free – algae and moss removal treatment
• Gum Gone – specialist chewing gum remover
• Graffiti Remover – paint and marking removal
• Ghost Buster – stain and shadowing treatment
All products selected based on surface type and contamination level.
The Results
• Offensive graffiti fully removed from walls and stairwells
• Algae and moss eliminated, significantly reducing slip hazards
• Chewing gum deposits removed across all pedestrian areas
• Floors, ramps and circulation routes restored to a clean, safe condition
• Car park transformed into a cleaner, more welcoming town-centre asset
The project delivered a visible transformation of the Ebbw Vale
multi-storey car park. Public feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and the building no longer presented as a neglected or unsafe structure within the town centre. The works improved both public safety and perception, supporting the council’s wider regeneration objectives.
