Love Where You Live!
09 June 2010
Residents in Essex are being urged to get behind the first ever countywide clean-up campaign aimed at encouraging local volunteers to tidy up their communities.
Essex County Council's 'Love Where You Live Week' initiative runs this week (June 7-14) and is a bid to engage schools, businesses, and communities to sign up and take part with a clean-up operation of their own.
'Love Where You Live Week' events can be anything from a small five minute litter pick to carrying out helpful jobs in their street or community and can involve small or large numbers of people.
A recent study by Keep Britain Tidy found that in terms of level of concern to residents, street cleanliness came only marginally behind the credit crunch and violent crime and above global warming, the price of petrol and traffic congestion.
Street Cleanliness is the second most important issue to Essex residents, according to the latest survey results.
Lynda McWilliams, Tendring District Council's Cabinet Member for the Environment, said she fully backed the idea and hoped people would take up the challenge.
"It would be great if groups, organisations, schools, and anyone who wants to get involved came up with an event to clear-up an area which is in need of attention where they live," she said.
"It is a chance for communities to make a real difference and help improve the environment around them."
Cllr McWilliams has been involved with numerous initiatives in Great Bentley where she lives and said they have proved very successful.
"Not only have they made the village cleaner and tidier but they have brought people together in a very positive way and created a real community spirit," she added.
If you live in Essex register for an event now!
Communities will also have the chance to enter the 'Best Blog' competition for the chance to win up to £500 worth of vouchers to help improve their area.