We’re taking pride to help clean up our area (From Worcester News)

We’re taking pride to help clean up our area

10:30pm Wednesday 1st September 2010 in News By Flora Drury, @floradruryWN #worcsnews

YOUNGSTERS have got together to clean up their playing fields in Worcester.

The group of Worcester TS Ark Royal Navy and Marine Cadets, along with people from Worcester Community Housing (WCH), the city council and police community support officer Matt Harris, picked up nine bags of rubbish on King George V playing fields in Brickfields on Tuesday.

It was decided to carry out the community clean-up after people living in the area said litter was one of their biggest concerns.

Kirsteen Price, WCH estate manager for Brickfields and Warndon, said: “We had a community event in Brickfields in June and we asked people to tell us what their issues were. The top things were litter in the area – and the park in particular.”

WCH joined forces with Worcester City Council and arranged a community clean-up, which have been happening across the city throughout the summer as part of the Take Pride in Worcester campaign.

The campaign, which is being run by your Worcester News, the city council and VisitWorcester, hopes to encourage people to keep their neighbourhood tidy.

Bruce Mourby, head of neighbourhoods, said WCH was 100 per cent behind the initiative. He said: “This is an excellent example of how partner agencies and residents can work together to make a difference to their local communities.

The Take Pride in Worcester campaign is drawing to a close this weekend after its launch in July and we reported earlier this week how the council had praised people for the way they have responded.

Sixty-five grot spots have been reported to the council since the campaign launched. Of those, at least 50 have been dealt with, while some were awaiting action. A handful of cases involve litter on private land.