A NEW campaign launched by your Worcester News to help clean up the city, could help clinch a top award.

This week we joined with Worcester City Council and VisitWorcester to launch the Take Pride in Worcester campaign. It aims to clean up the streets and parks of Worcester by encouraging people to report grot spots and even get out and about litter picking themselves.

The city council has entered the Clean Britain Awards for several years now, with great success, but has never clinched the gold award.

Last year that went to Truro in Cornwall, followed by Swansea which clinched silver and Birmingham which was awarded bronze. Worcester was one of just 10 cities to get a coveted five stars.

Now the city council is hoping Take Pride in Worcester will help them clinch a top prize.

Mike Harrison, the city’s head of cleaner and greener, said: “We cannot keep the city clean on our own, and this campaign should help us tackle the problem.

“It will also be evidence of other actions we are taking. It will form quite a good part of our application – and it would almost be a reward for everybody for the work they have put in.”

And according to Truro’s town clerk Russell Holden, teamwork is key to success.

“For us, it was partnership and working together which helped us win,” he said.

“We have a very good cleaning contractor, but if we did not work together we wouldn’t have won. The entire team was very motivated.

“For example, if an area only gets its grass cut once or twice a year, it will reveal a bit of litter. Working closely means we clean the litter up straight away.”

Worcester City Council and VisitWorcester believe a cleaner, greener city will mean more tourists and a much-needed boost to the local economy.

This point is backed up by Mr Holden. “You could never prove whether it has or it hasn’t increased tourism, but it is definitely one of many things which make up people’s experience of coming here,” he said.

Harvey Sugden, who is overseeing the management of the awards scheme for the Chartered Institute of Waste Management, said: “You could be judged on any where from one boundary line to another.

“The judges will look for litter, graffiti, dog fouling, fly-tipping and fly-posting, highways infrastructure, litter bin management and street furniture – even road markings, signage and leaf fall.”

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.