Over three tons of rubbish removed from Alkrington

Harry Smethurst with Councillor Martin and Sarah Robinson following the get tidy day

A day of action to tackle fly-tipping and unsightly rubbish in the Alkrington area required four lorry loads to carry away the refuse.

Although the great majority of people in the area already take action to keep their neighbourhood clean and safe, they are let down by a few tenants who create a mess in the area.

If left unchecked the accumulation of rubbish, discarded furniture and fridges, broken glass on paths, littering and overgrown gardens is a safety risk for children and encourages rats and other vermin into the neighbourhood.

Local councillor Donna Martin put her weight behind joint action to remove rubbish, tidy up overgrown areas and recycle household waste. She said: "It is about being proactive and tackling things before they really get out of hand.”

The idea for the get tidy day followed a joint area walkabout between Councillor Martin and RBH.

A successful application was made to the RBH ‘Decide Together’ fund to help tenants in the area to dispose of unwanted bulky items.

An RBH spokesperson said: “Days like this help to maintain community spirit and get the message out about keeping your garden tidy and free of rubbish. We also encourage people to cut the lawn and remove or recycle household waste. In the end, we all want the area to be a nice place to live.”

The police were on hand to provide anti-crime and community safety advice and Rochdale Youth Service offered training and volunteer advice to young adults.