Spring into action this weekend for The Great British Spring Clean

WITH litter pickers and bin bags at the ready, this weekend the people of Westbury will be joining the rest of the country for the Great British Spring Clean.

Following the success of last year’s Clean for the Queen, individuals, community groups, charities, businesses, clubs and schools will be springing into action this weekend to join the nationwide clean up.

Organisers hope this will become an annual event and inspire people to become litter-picking heroes, sending a clear message that we all want to live in a cleaner country free from litter.

So far there are five events registered but there is still time to register your interest and to get involved. Please ensure your event is registered as this will enable Waste Services at Wiltshire Council to access the details and collect any rubbish that  volunteers collect over the weekend. Clean-ups in our area are as follows:

• Westbury Lions and Leos, The Market Place, Maristow Street, High Street, All Saints Church Yard from 10am on Saturday 4th March.

• BA13+ Partnership, Leigh Park estate. Meeting at Leigh Park Community Centre at 2pm on Saturday 4th March.

• Westbury Shed, Grassacres Park and surrounding streets, 1pm on Saturday 4th March.

• Westbury Town Council, Penleigh Park and Oldfield Road, 10am on Saturday 4th March.

Edington Parish Council, Edington village  Church car park, 9.30am on Saturday 4th March.

Westbury community engagement manager, Liam Cripps said, “The Great British Spring Clean follows on from the huge success of Clean for the Queen last year and once again the Westbury community are planning to come out in force.

“Litter is an issue that impacts on all of us and while every effort is made to collect as much as possible, sadly a minority of people still drop litter with little regard for those around them and the environment. £2.5million is spent on collecting litter by Wiltshire Council which I’m sure everyone will agree would be better spent elsewhere if it could be.

“So in addition to the huge thanks to these community groups out litter picking, I have two messages: Please don’t litter and please come out and join us over the weekend of 4th and 5th March.”

Mayor of Westbury, cllr Stephen Andrews said, “Westbury Town Council is concerned about its street scene and would like to present the town in its most favourable setting at all times. A particular problem has been identified with the amount of litter around the town. Although we have a town caretaker and employees of Wiltshire Council picking up litter, there is still a lot to do.

If you are concerned about the state of our town and would like to volunteer you should e-mail: info@westburytowncouncil.gov.uk for further information. Litter picking equipment will be available and arrangements have been made to remove all the waste collected.”

You will need to register your clean up online at  www.greatbritishspringclean.org.uk/home/2684
Kits are available but they are limited, so get in touch with Westbury community engagement manager, Liam Cripps on liam.cripps@wiltshire.gov.uk or 01225 713143 to order yours.