Pupils pick up respect for Moss Side

Manchester City Council’s environment officers will be calling on the expertise of litter-picking youngsters to help clean-up the streets of Moss Side.

As part of the Moss Side Respect Action Week, pupils from Claremont Primary School will be going on a tour of the ward's grot spots with the council's street environment manager, Mike Berry. The youngsters will then put their heads together to come up with a power point presentation or DVD and posters to highlight the problems of abandoned wheelie bins, street litter and flytipping.

The youngsters have been chosen to lend a hand because of their expertise in keeping their school grounds in an immaculate condition - pupils regularly carry out litter picks to keep their playgrounds spick and span.

Throughout Moss Side Respect Action Week, which begins on Monday (28 January) Manchester City Council will be working with Greater Manchester Police alongside the community to tackle anti social behaviour, low level crime and environmental issues. The respect action week programme has been running in wards across the city since the summer and some areas have recorded a 50% fall in crime compared to the same week in the previous year.

Manchester City Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Jim Battle said: "The issue of rubbish and flytipping is raised regularly in residents' surveys of Moss Side and we are determined to work with the community to help tackle it.

"The Respect Action Weeks we've already held across the city have been hugely successful and have given communities the support they need to continue the good work."

Media contact:

Sally Wheatman, tel: 0161 234 4045