IT is one of the most recognisable parts of Ipswich – and today an initiative aimed at cleaning up the Waterfront is under way.

Associated British Ports (ABP) and Ipswich Borough Council have signed a deal which will see cleaners clear litter and debris from the water.

Litter around the Waterfront area has caused misery for residents in recent years and the Star has previously reported on concerns about the amount of litter.

Councillors believe that this new initiative, which will see the area cleaned up every two weeks, will result in a cleaner Waterfront.

It is also hoped that it will provide a boost for the town with thousands expected to turn out for the upcoming Maritime Festival.

Sandy Martin, Ipswich Borough Council portfolio holder for fairer and greener Ipswich, said: “The Waterfront is incredibly important to the economy of Ipswich.

“We want to attract tourists and people to live here and keeping the place clean is a really important part of that.”

The initiative is a shared resource contract and it will see council employees and an ABP team clean the area by scooping out rubbish from the water.

Cllr Martin added: “They are scooping the rubbish out with nets – it’s not high tech, but it’s effective.”

The new partnership has come after meetings between the two organisations to discover the best way to clean up the Waterfront.

A spokesman for ABP said: “Associated British Ports has regular meetings with Ipswich Borough Council.

“As part of these meetings we have tried to give greater structure to the way that we co-ordinate and work together to remove rubbish from the wet dock.

“We are hopeful that this will result in further improvements in the cleanliness of the area.”

As part of the deal, Associated British Ports will bear the cost of the disposal of the waste.