RETAILERS ENCOURAGED TO USE NEW TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUE TO CLEAN MALTON SHOP FRONTS

 

 

The Fitzwilliam Estate is encouraging Malton’s retailers, in Wheelgate in particular, to enhance the appearance of their buildings through the use of a traditional technique to clean masonry, both brick and stonework.

 

Earlier this year the Estate trialled the cleaning of stonework at Jennifers and The Gift Shop in Wheelgate, using a manual system which uses neither high pressure water nor chemicals.

 

The success of the trial has given the Estate the confidence to encourage other retailers and shop owners to consider cleaning their shop front elevations.

 

Estate manager Roddy Bushell says: “Wheelgate is one of the town’s principal shopping locations. There’s a need to present a clean, tidy, and welcoming face in order to compete with shopping venues outside of Malton.

 

The manual system is sympathetic to the soft stonework and mortar prevalent in many of Malton’s older buildings and, whilst more costly in labour terms, preserves the fabric of the historic buildings.

 

The technique has been developed in house by the Estate using the advice and expertise of local stonemasons. With the traditional building materials used in Malton it was essential that any cleaning work is carried out without the use of chemicals or high pressure cleaning jets. The method uses hand tools only and a low pressure water supply to rinse away the accumulated grime. One shop front takes two trained technicians approximately two days work, with a day each end for erection and dismantling of the scaffold.

 

Roddy adds: “The support and enthusiasm of local businesses is vital if we are to achieve sufficient cleaning to make a significant difference to the appearance of the town’s street scene. The Estate will be pleased to discuss and organise a partnership approach with businesses renting premises from us – as costs are around £1000 per property -and we can also offer advice and coordinate work on behalf of non estate owned properties.”