Manchester City Council

Residents, student volunteers and representatives from Manchester University have joined forces to make a clean start in the Withington area.

The Love Withington group was set up in partnership with Manchester City Council, Manchester University and local residents. Their first event, held recently, saw them donning protective gloves and grabbing litter- picks, mops and brushes as part of a project to seriously spruce up Withington village and Old Moat.

The community clean-up is part of the ongoing efforts of the group to improve the area. Bags of rubbish are being removed from back alleys, pavements are being brushed up, and street furniture is also being cleaned as part of the recently launched Love Withington initiative. The community project is aiming to tackle environmental problems in an area where long-time residents and students share serious concerns about flytipping, waste and other issues associated with very high levels of rented student accommodation and short-term occupancy of properties.

The recent event concentrated on cleaning up targeted sites around Wilmslow Road, Withington village, Rutherford Place and surrounding areas.

As part of the initiative, residents and students also set up a special gazebo outside Withington Library, where they asked people who live and work in Withington and Old Moat how they feel their area can be improved for the better.

Rita Whitehead, Chair of the Love Withington Group, said: "Today has been a great success, with residents, students and Manchester Council staff all getting together, not only to clean up Withington village, but to ask the people who live in and use Withington what they like about the area and what they would change."

Over 180 questionnaires were completed on the day and these will now be used to plan future Love Withington events that will benefit the whole community.

They will all be focused around the project's key community themes - namely Respect, Pride, Engagement and Celebration. The results of the questionnaire will also be the start of an ongoing strategy designed to persuade all sections of the community to take real pride in their area and to help make it a better place to live.

Committee member Caroline Lambe said: "Our first Love Withington event demonstrated the serious interest of residents and students in the effort we all need to put in towards generating a greater appreciation for the area. Whether you are a fellow Withingtonian or living here while studying, our message is clear: love where you live and Love Withington!"

Another participant in the clean-up event, student John Chan (pictured), said: "There has been a real sense of achievement and everybody involved in the event has made a positive difference to the future of Withington. I am really glad I could take part today and I will carry on being involved as much as I can."

Old Moat Ward Co-ordination Support Officer Steve Marsden said: "What is clear from today's events is that by working shoulder to shoulder with each other with a common goal, we can all make a difference and achieve a positive change and continue to improve Withington for everyone."

Withington Ward Co-ordination Support Officer Sarah Lucas added: "It also shows how ward co-ordination supports the community groups and initiatives by addressing the issues and priorities of local residents."

Another Love Withington event was set to take place in December just before the students went home for Christmas, and more events are being planned for the year ahead.

If you would like to get involved, or for more information, contact Steve Marsden, Ward Co-ordination Support Officer, on 446 2131 or email s.marsden2@manchester.gov.uk

 By Susan Press