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Clean-up prayers are answered!
Reporter: Helen Korn
Date online: 03 February 2012
PEOPLE power saw 80 volunteers clean up Clarksfield as part of a worldwide campaign to rid streets of rubbish.
Members of the Trafford-based World Mission Society Church of God decided to lend a hand after reading in the Chronicle about reported litter problems in the area.
The mass clean-up comes amid fierce debate between Oldham politicians as to who is responsible for tidying our streets.
The Lib-Dems’ alternative budget proposes employing two extra enforcement officers to tackle litter and fly-tipping and £135,000 for more Street Scene staff to keep Oldham clean.
But Labour councillors claim the tough financial position the council finds itself in does not allow the luxury of employing staff to clear up after residents — who should keep their own streets clean.
Complaints were raised by Councillor Lynne Thompson who reported Kelverlow, Goss Hall and Ronald and Eric streets as major hotspots.
Councillor Thompson blamed a lack of council resources for the deteriorating problem. Campaigners took matters into their own hands and headed to those streets where they felt their help would be most needed. Around 50 bin bags were packed full of rubbish in three hours. Delighted residents praised the volunteers on the good deed and invited them to “come round more often.”
Others joined in with the clean-up. The volunteers, who pay for their own cleaning tools and transport to get around, have already tidied up areas of Manchester, Bury, London and Newcastle. They are carrying out the environmental campaign to cut pollution and to assist the underprivileged.
Lauren Webb, from the church, said: “When we see a problem area reported in a newspaper, we take it upon ourselves to carry out the mission to clean up that area.”
The clean-up comes at a time when complaints have been made about cuts to Oldham Council’s street-cleaning teams.
Council leader Jim McMahon blasted residents for not taking responsibility.
He said: “Some constituents expect us to start picking up after them. They think we should start with areas where residents don’t look after their own streets. Do not attack the council for not taking action when you don’t take your own.”
Councillor Jean Stretton said there had been a slight increase in litter in certain hotspots of the borough which tend to be those with dense residential properties for obvious reasons.
There are 2,200 churches in 150 countries around the world, all participating in clean ups where they live.
Comments
Well done to the volunteers, but the residents are responsible for this mess!! If I see rubbish blowing about outside my house I pick it up and put it in the bin, it's not a hard task and takes two minutes of your time.
Yet again the residents have been absolved of their responsibility for their area, and probably sat in their houses and watched the volunteers do it for them....unbelievable.
"Delighted residents praised the volunteers on the good deed and invited them to “come round more often.”" - and this shows part of the problem! A lot of people don't feel part of their own neighbourhoods, they don't have any community spirit anymore. It is the same reason why very few people help out gritting their own streets & pavements. Perhaps the "delighted residents" will be inspired to help themselves after this, or better still, not dumping on their own doorsteps in the first place!!
What a shame that the residents lmade it such a mess and then couldn't be bother to lift a finger to tidy it up. Perhaps they might have when it started to smell or the rats began to move in?
The Council are not to blame for litter in our streets - the people who drop it are. Admittedly there is more to drop these days but surely it's not too much trouble to either take it to the nearest bin or even to take it home. If people want the Council to save money, why on earth can't they co-operate to keep their streets clean?
Well done but give it a week or two and back to the same mess. The majority of people have no pride in where they live anymore. Sign of the times. There was a time when the ladies used to scrub their doorsteps.
I think it is great that these volunteers have cleaned up but Mr McMahon is correct people should not throw litter on the floor in the first place you should have a pride in where you live and not expect people to pick up after you. Lets see how long it is before these same streets are full of litter again...........
good job and well done.
Whilst I dont often agree with our lacklustre council officials, this is one occasion when I do!! The residents have a responsibility to clear their own area, as it is probably their own doing.
Is Cllr McMahon advocating the Big Society after all.
Councillor Thompson should blame local residents.There are wheely bins for each property.
If they want to live in filth, let them. Nice to see the Labour council leader buying into the big society idea where people should look to themselves first before expecting the state in any guise to sort things out.
Wheelie bins should be put at the back of houses,
like all bins were in the good old days,
and Council refuse waggons should be small enough to collect from the backs of houses.
It's unhealthy & uncivilised to put your waste out at the front : the Victorians would be appalled.
Delighted residents praised the volunteers on the good deed and invited them to “come round more often.”
Somehow I don’t think the residents have quite grasped the ‘valid criticism’ made by Cllr McMahon – to take ‘personal’ responsibility for ones area.
If you watched the live streaming of the Council meeting on Wednesday you would fully understand where Mr McMahon was coming from with his comments on this story--Nice one Jim --you have my full support on this issue.
Less cleaning , more enforcement .. Make them do it themselves
I admire those people who have cleaned up Clarksfield.Cllr Thompson could persuade her Distict Partnership to spend their money keeping the streets of Clarkfield clear of the litter that their Council Tax payers drop.A self fulifiling action, keeps them all happy!
There is no excuse for littering, whether Oldham Council Tax Payers are getting a good and fair deal for their money, thats a different story, lots of cuts to public services and employment however no sign of a cut to Council Tax Rates, how much does McMahon Pay himself then?
It is a shocking indictment of the local people - who must be creating the mess in the first place - that 80 people had to come in to clean it up! The locals should be ashamed of themselves.
i live in the area and im sick to death of it myself,people put bins out days before bin men are due then the wind blows all there rubbish out everywhere...and then have cheek to nick other peoples bins and if i knew about the clean up i would happily of helped!! and the area stinks al time n mice are everywhere
ME AND MY FAMILY LIVE IN THIS AREA AND WE PUT OUR RUBBISH IN THE BINS, PROBABLY MOST PEOPLE DO THIS BUT A FEW EXCEPTIONS, ALOT OF IT IS YOUNG KIDS THAT THEIR PARENTS DON`T TEACH THEM ANY MORALS, I SEE THEM THROWING RUBBISH ALL THE TIME BUT IF YOU DAY ANYTHING THEY JUST GIVE YOU ABUSE AND TELL YOU TO **** OFF, SO THIS IS JUST A SIGN OFF THINGS TO COME DUE TO THE CUTBACKS WITH THE POLICE AND JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT GOT ANY POWER ANYMORE AND CAUSE PARENTS DON`T REALLY CARE.
UNBELIEVABLE. Some people of Clarksfield couldnt be bothered to clean up and wait for others to do it. I would have left it - pure lazy.
Why didn't the councillors put the "community payback" crew to good use? Maybe the residents knowing criminals were lurking around their property would encourage them to put their litter in the bins next time? Maybe I should stand for parliament? : )
Have Your Say
Litter in the steets is disgusting but have people noted the state of our local buses recently? Floors and seats usually covered with the daily "Metro" newspaper by late morning. We must have the most littered buses in Europe. The cleanest, of course being Germany & Holland. I believed it was school-children who caused the mess but the bus drivers tell me its mostle adults at fault.Please take the paper with you when leaving the bus/tram or replace it where you obtained it from.
By ROYOLD @ 03/02/2012 16:05:00