ANYONE wanting to take pride in their neighbourhood is being encouraged to band together and help clean it up.

A community clean-up is one of the ways in which the people of Worcester are being encouraged to Take Pride in Worcester.

Worcester City Council would like groups of people – from neighbours to community or church groups – to organise litter picks in their areas.

In return for their efforts, the council will provide a street sweeper, bin bags and high visibility jackets, and arrange for all the bags of litter to be collected.

And your Worcester News will be on hand to take before and after photos to record your efforts.

The scheme was kicked off in St Peter’s over the weekend, when local councillors, residents and the local vicar – as well as your Worcester News reporter Lauren Rogers – cleaned up the area around Abbotsbury Court, off St Peter’s Drive.

Councillor Roger Knight, Worcester City Council cabinet member for cleaner and greener, led by example and arranged the Saturday morning litter pick – and he doesn’t think it could have gone any better.

“It made a great start to our campaign,” he said. “It has lifted the spirits in St Peter’s. To see the place looking so clean and tidy after the efforts of the volunteers is wonderful.”

Their community clean-up targeted one of the worst places for rubbish in the area – the multi-use games area behind St Peter’s Baptist Church – leaving it sparkling clean.

And Coun Knight hopes the added emphasis on keeping Worcester tidy for the next six weeks might mean it stays that way. “Wouldn’t it be lovely if people did not drop their litter in the first place?” he said.

• Anyone wishing to organise their own community clean-up should call 01905 722101. Don’t forget to let your Worcester News know when and where, either by calling 01905 742260 or e-mailing fd@worcesternews.co.uk

The 48hr grot spot promise

PEOPLE who report grot spots in Worcester have been promised they will be cleaned up within two working days.

Worcester City Council has made the pledge as part of the Take Pride in Worcester campaign – and is determined to fulfil it.

All people have to do is report any particular place in Worcester which they feel has descended into a ‘grot spot’ and the council will send a team along to deal with it within 48 hours, or two working days.

The only time Worcester City Council cannot keep its promise is when the grot spot falls on private property – in which case they will contact the owner.

A grot spot can be anything from a bit of graffiti to litter or even petty vandalism – anything which people feel lets their city down.

A spokesman for the city council said: “A grot spot is anything which someone feels is not how they want our city to be.

“It is about residents taking responsibility and not just grumbling about it.

"Unfortunately, we, as the council, cannot have ears and eyes everywhere so people need to let us know.”

To report a grot spot to the council call 01905 722 101. The authority promises to have it cleaned up within two working days.
• Click here for more on the Take Pride campaign and to upload your own grot spot pictures.