There’s a new look to the centre of Orrell and it’s all thanks to the local residents and business staff rolling up their sleeves and making the place look its best.
Local group the Orrell Network, which is made up of residents, businesses, councillors and police, is behind the clean-up campaign and members recently came together to celebrate the village’s success.
The Network is being supported by the Council’s Environmental Education Team and Orrell, Billinge, Winstanley PACT (Partners and Community Together) Team.
As part of this businesses around Church Street have signed up to the Keep Britain Tidy – Tidy Business Awards. A total of 12 businesses have joined the nationally recognised scheme, which rewards businesses who dispose of their waste responsibly, keep their shop-fronts clean and tidy, reduce their waste, increase recycling and take part in community clean-ups.
The scheme is already proving to be successful with two businesses achieving the bronze award, six silver and four gold.
The group is also waiting to hear whether its entry into the Village category of the annual North West in Bloom competition.
Mega Bites, sandwich and snack shop is just one of the businesses to get involved, owner Graham Thomas says: “We are pleased to be supporting the North West in Bloom and the Tidy Business Awards schemes and we are proud that our environmental awareness has been recognised. If everyone in Orrell did just one small act to improve the appearance of the village we’d all make such a big impact.”
While Dorothy Walls, who is chair of the Orrell Network adds: “I am very proud to belong to Orrell. Residents and businesses alike have given their all to make Orrell in Bloom a success. Support has ranged from being given 600 bedding plants to having the hedges on Winstanley Road just before the judges were due. A huge thank you to everyone who got involved.”
Ward councillors Michael Winstanley and Peter Thompson were on hand recently to hand over the Tidy Business Awards and to congratulate members of the Network.
Now thanks to all the success in Orrell the council is looking to expand the Tidy Business Awards scheme to other businesses in the area.
Ellen Belshaw of the Environmental Education Team says: “It’s good to see such a high number of businesses supporting the efforts made to improve the local environment.
“By building stronger relationships with local businesses, we can work together to create a cleaner and greener borough and Wigan Council is happy to support such efforts.”
