Alleyways in Bloom competition

Edenfield Road, Rochdale

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Green-fingered residents are being encouraged to get gardening as the ‘Alleyways in Bloom’ competition returns for 2017.

The competition in its tenth year asks residents, who have anti-burglary alley-gates installed on their street to come together with neighbours to improve their alleyway and enhance their neighbourhood.

In previous years residents have transformed rundown or vandalised alleyways by installing potted plants and floral decorations to their alleyways to create communal areas for their street to enjoy.

All entries will receive a visit from the burglary reduction officer who will take photographs to be judged during July/August.

The winner will receive a £50 garden voucher with the runner up receiving a £25 voucher.

Councillor Janet Emsley, Rochdale Borough Council’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods, community and culture, said: “Alley-gating schemes are not just a great way to help reduce burglary and antisocial behaviour in an area, they can also create beautiful and safe places for families and neighbours to enjoy together.

“I urge all alley-gating schemes to enter the Alleyways in Bloom competition and take pride in your local area.”

The competition is run through the council’s burglary reduction scheme, which as well as cutting burglary also tackles, antisocial behaviour, malicious fires and fly-tipping by installing lockable steel gates at both ends of back alleyways, which have experienced or are at risk of crime.

Residents interested in entering the competition should contact the council’s burglary reduction officer on 01706 924687 by Friday 7 July.