Clean team makes strides with community clear-up (From Warrington Guardian)

Clean team makes strides with community clear-up

CONGLETON'S new Clean Team is going from strength to strength in its efforts to bin fears about crime in litter-logged areas.

The voluntary group has been set up by Cheshire Police Business Watch Officer Robin Curry to address local environmental issues and hopefully have the knock-on effect of reducing crime and anti-social behaviour.

Mr Curry said: "Areas that are dirty and heavily littered create a feeling of unease which puts ordinary people off using those areas, which in turn makes them into places where anti-social behaviour and criminality are allowed to flourish.

"At every Community Action Meeting I have been to environmental issues, which include litter and dog fouling, are always flagged up as important to that community, but they are usually eclipsed by issues such as speeding and youth nuisance so rarely get the attention they deserve."

On Sunday eight volunteers spent two hours collecting ten bags of rubbish from the canal bank near Congleton Railway Station and have left notices asking people to keep it clean.

The Clean Team will be back in the same area again this Sunday at 10.30am.

For information on volunteering with the Clean Team call 01244 613269.