With pavements pockmarked by carelessly discarded chewing gum, fastfood wrappers and cigarette butts thrown onto our streets, green spaces spoiled by dog fouling and alleyways littered with dumped household items – our teams seriously have their work cut out for them.
The council is working with Keep Britain Tidy on the Big Tidy Up – a national campaign that calls on councils, residents, businesses, schools and community groups to work together to help tackle the grime crime that blights our neighbourhoods.
“It’s all hands on deck,” says Kevin Anderson, Wigan Council’s cabinet champion for neighbourhoods. “The Big Tidy Up is all about tackling grot spots and making our borough a cleaner, greener place to live.”
It all kicks off in April with a programme of community clean-ups, road shows, competitions and school activities, the best of which will be captured on You Tube.
The campaign comes hot on the heels of a local enforcement drive which led to more than 70 fines being issued to litter louts and saw fly-tippers successfully taken to court.
“The Big Tidy Up is a chance to send out a strong message that the council will not tolerate grime crime,” said Sally Wolstencroft, head of neighbourhood services.
“There are many ways people can help – for example by picking up a piece of litter every day. This kind of direct action, no matter how small, can make a huge difference.”
Make a clean sweep of things! Sign up or register your event at The Big Tidy Up (external link) and claim your free campaign pack which includes rubbish sacks, tabards and handy tips on how best to make your event a success.
