Council Leader Richard Farnell on Youth Service clean up

Youth clean up

I have written extensively about the importance of a clean, green environment and the positive impact it can have on people's lives.

Living in an area with parks and other open spaces will always feature strongly in residents' satisfaction surveys. I'd argue that those who get involved in community clean-ups appreciate and enjoy their neighbourhood more.

I will be attending one such event in my ward next month. The Youth Service have invited me along to Balderstone Park to see their clean ups for myself.

I've been told I need to be at the skate park for 12noon on Tuesday, 8 August 2017 and will be presented with bag and grabber to do my bit along with other volunteers.

The event was advertised through the service's website and its contact with schools. Attracting our youth to play their part is crucial if the initiative is to succeed.

In a heart-breaking development, though, they were forced to ask for financial help because callous criminals broke into their Moss Street offices.

The thieves took off with most of the gift cards they were saving to fund food and craft materials for summer projects such as this one. That's simply appalling and such a low blow.

I've asked them to contact the individual townships to seek the financial support they so desperately need.

Not to be deterred however the hard working staff have continued running a wide range of activities throughout August 2017, culminating in a Festival of Friendship at Balderstone Park 1pm-5pm on Thursday, 31 August 2017.

Environmental Management and friends groups have worked side by side and to date have collected over 230 bags of rubbish from across Rochdale borough.

The council's backing the brand new national campaign to get half a million people out and about cleaning up their local communities which began in March 2017.

This is designed to promote an improved physical environment and personal wellbeing.

If you would like to know more about clean ups contact environmental services by email environmental.management@rochdale.gov.uk or call 0300 303 8884.

Councillor Richard Farnell
Leader
Rochdale Borough Council