Local volunteers are getting ready for one of the biggest clean ups yet, site as the nationwide campaign ‘Clean for the Queen’ draws closer.
Whilst Cheltenham’s efforts have officially been registered to take place after Gold Cup week, buy some helpers are going out this weekend joining lots of other towns and cities up and down the country who are cleaning on 4, 5 and 6 March.
As part of a 70 strong team, some volunteers will be visiting areas including Swindon Village and Warden Hill primary schools, areas of Oakley and Wyman’s Brook and Old Pates football ground this weekend to get a head start on the tidy up. More than 34 other areas around the borough will benefit from the clean up when the team goes out in force after the races, 19 – 21 March.
The huge litter pick is a national move – coordinated by Keep Britain Tidy – to clean up the country ahead of the Queen’s 90th birthday in April. Various groups make up the team of local volunteers and include school children, residents’ associations, boys brigade, ‘men in sheds’ and ‘friends of’ groups. The council is providing them with equipment (bags, gloves, hi-visibility jackets, hoops and litter pickers) and Ubico will take away the rubbish, with some being recycled where possible. Ubico have also offered to provide refreshments for the volunteers.
Further good news is that during April, council officers will be rolling out an initiative to remove chewing gum from town centre areas including the Promenade, upper High Street including The Strand, lower High Street and Royal Well Bus Station.
Councillor Chris Coleman, cabinet member for clean and green environment said: ‘’I am so pleased that we have managed to recruit an army of volunteers who will work together to have Cheltenham looking great for the Queen’s birthday. Whilst the council invests a lot of money in keeping the streets clean, we really need the support of local residents to keep the borough litter free.
‘’It will be exciting to see all of our volunteers coming together to make a real difference over the coming weeks. It’s also important to consider how we can create a legacy from this so that Cheltenham’s streets and open spaces continue to be clean and litter free.’’
Any residents who have not yet come forward and would like to volunteer can contact Janice Peacey on 01242 774512, email Janice.peacey@cheltenham.gov.uk or Helen Down on 01242 774960, email helen.down@cheltenham.gov.uk
See details of all of the planned litter picks in Cheltenham on the Clean for the Queen website.