A ONE-WOMAN campaign has been launched to spruce up Bromsgrove's scruffy High Street and clean out one of its most valuable natural assets, the town brook.

Areas such as Clegg's Entry, running from High Street to Crown Close, which is frequently used as an unofficial lavatory and a place avoided by those who know it, especially in hot weather, is one area in particular in need of a thorough clean.

The woman spearheading the call for the big clean up is Tory district councillor Rita Dent.

Rita was elected unopposed to the new town centre St John's ward in the May 1 local elections and is anxious visitors will not be put off returning or residents embarrassed by its scruffiness and unkempt appearance.

The Spadesbourne Brook, which runs behind High Street and Worcester Road to its confluence with Battlefield Brook at Watt Close, is choked along almost its entire length by vegetation, silt and rubbish. On at least three occasions in the past, members of the Bromsgrove Society has taken it on themselves to clean it out.

Cllr Dent said: "The Spadesbourne is a marvellous feature of the town which regrettably is not able to be seen at its best due to rubbish and overgrown vegetation.

"How wonderful it would be if the brook could be cleaned up to enable everyone to see the flow of water and enjoy the insect life which will abound."

"Areas such as Clegg's Entry and other passages from High Street are in need of a clean up and I will do my best to have these improved."

Rita added that she has had a meeting with senior council officer John Moody in a bid to set the wheels in motion to start the task.