Pride in our community

TIDY work: council leader Jim McMahon and chief executive Carolyn Wilkins with Eve Chapman

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COMMUNITY spirit was alive and kicking across Oldham at the weekend as hundreds of volunteers rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in to a mass clean-up.

Council leader Jim McMahon and chief executive Carolyn Wilkins got the ball rolling in Failsworth when they joined litter pickers at Westminster Park before moving on to Cutler Hill Road.

Councillor McMahon said: “This wasn’t just a one-day event in Failsworth, we’ve been running clean-up campaigns for the past three months.

“Littering is one of the biggest problems we face in Oldham and it’s so avoidable. The council has just taken on 10 new street cleaners and nine new enforcement officers to keep our communities clean and make sure rules are enforced.

“The clean-up campaign served to bring people together, doing their bit to improve the area they live in. It is everyone’s job to look after the town, not just the council.”

Ms Wilkins added: “It’s just a shame the people who came out to clear up aren’t the ones who made the mess in the first place.”

Clean-up events were held across the borough with Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams getting involved in Clarksfield.

Councillor Barbara Brownridge, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and co-operatives, said: “Cleaning up our communities costs the council and residents around £1m each year, so initiatives like this not only help improve the area but also save money.”