Clean sweep!
Reporter: DAWN ECKERSLEY
Date published: 18 March 2009
Borough scores highly in survey of ‘nice places to live’
NOW you see it, now you don’t — Oldham is leading the way when it comes to stamping out graffiti and fly-tipping.
Councils across the country were tested for everything from rubbish-strewn streets to the quality of litter bin collections.
The Local Environment Quality Survey, which is run by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), assesses what quality of life is enjoyed by residents in every local authority.
A recent Mori poll placed the borough’s clean streets third — behind low levels of crime and health services — in a survey of what makes somewhere a nice place to live.
Councils have the power to prosecute those who drop litter, deface walls and buildings and dump their rubbish illegally under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act.
The survey, which refers to spot checks between April, 2007, and March, 2008, shows that Oldham scores highly for the way it tackles graffiti, fly posting and fly tipping.
The results highlight the Street Scene team’s effective management of litter bins throughout the borough and the town’s bus stops were also found to be free of graffiti and fly posters.
Oldham was said to unsatisfactory for litter (which comprises items dropped by members of the public) and detritus (which includes leaf fall, blossom, moss etc).
A survey conducted in 2006 by the GMB Union found more than a fifth of Oldham’s 620 miles of road to be covered in litter, chewing gum and graffiti.
Councillor Mark Alcock, cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, says the council are making fantastic progress in cracking down on litter louts.
He added: “It costs the council £2 million each year to keep the streets clean so we are trying to get the message across that if they played their part to keep the town tidier we could spend the money on something else.
“We are very proactive when it comes to fly-tipping and graffiti and don’t hesitate to prosecute those responsible as soon as we catch them.
“We also work with local communities to identify where the problem areas are and go into schools to educate youngsters on being clean and green.
“It is only a minority of Oldhamers that cause problems - most want to live in a pleasant environment so they do their bit to keep it that way.
“We have a long way to go but we are on track to becoming a cleaner and greener town.”
Across the country, smoking related litter was the most common thing found by inspectors followed by confectionery packaging, drinks related litter and fast food packaging.
Overall litter has fallen by three percent and dog fouling has dropped for the second year running.
To report any fly-tipping or graffiti call the council’s One Stop Shop on 0161-770 3000 and for the full survey results visit www.encams.org
