TOP STORY: Are cleaners all washed up?

Windscreen washers vying for spots at Bay traffic lights are upsetting most of the community.
A new Bay of Plenty Times-commissioned Key Research and Marketing Insight poll shows that three of every five people want window washers banned from our city streets.
Since window washers converged on Tauranga and Mount Maunganui both Tauranga City Council and local police have fielded an increasing number of calls from the public urging them to be banished.
In the survey, 61 per cent of men and 57 per cent of women believed "soap-sud" crews should be banned from roads.
A further 36 per cent of people thought they should stay put and only 5.3 per cent had no opinion.
Windscreen washers now command posts at all major traffic junctions in the city - 15th Ave/Fraser St, 15th Ave/Cameron Rd, Cameron Rd/Elizabeth St and Chapel St/Takitimu Drive.
There have also been reports of washers at the Welcome Bay shopping complex.
Window washers were especially disliked by older, richer men.
Of the 301 people surveyed, 79 per cent of those who believed the cleaning crews should be banned earned more than $25,000 a year, and 55 per cent were aged over 35.
The Bay's longest operating windscreen washer, Micah Robertson, said the results did not surprise him.
The majority of those opposed to windscreen washing drove expensive cars and fell into the older age group, he said, whereas the younger generation were more obliging.
"Most people who say 'no' tend to be over the age of 50."
This situation was also reflected Most want washers gone
he Bay's roadside window washing entrepreneurs, such as Micah Robertson, would be squeezed out of town if it was up to the public.
in the survey as 64 per cent of those aged between 15 and 24 years supported the washers.
The Key Research poll had a margin of error of 5.65 per cent.
Mr Robertson, 25, said it was disappointing people were so abrupt to windscreen washers.
"People don't realise we are not out here to cause a nuisance, we are here to make an honest living."
He hitchhiked from Hamilton once or twice a week and worked several different intersections to support his elderly mother and younger brother.
But that did not stop the last council from attempting to squeeze the washers out of Tauranga in 2002.
The proposal, which would have let police fine the washers and impound their gear, was eventually thrown out.
Bylaws in other city centres, including Hamilton and Auckland, allow a $500 fine to be imposed.
While Mr Robertson did not agree washers should be banned altogether but believed the council needed to do something to stop just anyone from hitting the streets.
He said in September last year, Auckland washers caused problems while working in Tauranga under the influence of alcohol.
It was this incident that prompted Tauranga City Council to reconsider the future of the washers and saw local cleaners, including Mr Robertson, push the council to supply genuine window washers with permits.
Mr Robertson added the workers also helped when problems occurred at the lights.
During August and September last year, cleaning crews stationed at the corner of Elizabeth St and Cameron Rd averted almost certain disaster, when they helped direct traffic during a string of power cuts.
Council group manager of city services Brian Hodge said while the results of the survey were interesting, the council had already made a decision to let window washers remain in the Bay for the time being.
However, he said it was likely the issue of working permits would come up again when councillors discussed the street-use bylaw later this year.
The council was collecting letters from members of the public, indicating their stance.
This research was conducted on behalf of the BOP Times by Key Research & Marketing as part of their regular INSIGHT syndicated survey.