People power helps clear up neighbourhoods
8 October 2010
Manchester City Council has teamed up with residents to clear up sites in north and east Manchester.
City Council staff worked with PCSOs, residents as well as staff from McDonald's restaurants to spruce up sites in Harpurhey, Ardwick and Gorton as part of the Keep Britain Tidy Big Tidy Up.
The Big Tidy Up was aimed at getting residents out on the streets cleaning up their communities.
Members of the Moston Valley and Moston Meadows Residents Associations joined City Council and McDonald's staff to clean up Ashley Lane in Harpurhey on Monday 4 October, and managed to fill two skips and 20 bags of rubbish.
As well as collecting litter from the road and the nearby playing fields, the volunteers also cut back shrubs, getting rid of hiding places for criminals.
Meanwhile, youngsters and parents from Grove Community Centre in Ardwick joined the operation to clear up Devonshire Street, while volunteers collected 20 bags of rubbish when they cleared up Debdale Park Reservoir in Gorton.
The clear-ups were organised as part of the City Council's Proud Of Manchester programme, which aims to celebrate life in the city's neighbourhoods and encourage good citizenship.
Councillor Paul Andrews, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, said: "These events show yet again how our residents are only too eager to get stuck in and help make sure their neighbourhoods are places they can be truly proud of."
David Russell of McDonald's said: "Our staff had a wonderful time working with residents and the City Council. I hope this has helped make a difference to residents' lives and we look forward to getting involved in similar schemes in the future."
