A blitz on environmental problems and neighbourhood nuisances will start next week in an East Durham village.
District of Easington Council is appealing for residents and businesses in Easington Colliery to support the campaign to spruce up their community.
The clean up, which is being organised by the authority’s Pride in Easington team, aims to tackle problems such as litter, graffiti and flytipping as well as promote environmental issues.
The campaign, which will run from June23 to 29, will be the first in a series of week-long events based on the annual district-wide New Year Big Clean but focusing on an individual village or town in the district.
Coun George Patterson, Chairman of the Pride in Easington Steering Group, said: “Our Big Clean has been running for a couple of years now and with the help and cooperation of the public we have achieved some excellent results.
“These smaller operations are an attempt to build on that success by focusing all our efforts on an individual community and really trying to motivate residents and local businesses to take responsibility for the appearance of their area.”
Easington Colliery Primary School is among the organisations already signed up to take part in the event.
Pupils from years 5 and 6 will be carrying out a litter pick and joining the council’s Coast and Countryside Rangers for a rock pool survey, while younger children will be learning about environmental issues during a visit to the local library.
Representatives from the National Trust, Easington Colliery Regeneration Partnership and Durham Voles volunteer group will also be supporting the campaign by cleaning up a cycle path and walkway.
Council cleansing and horticultural staff will be tackling graffiti, tidying the yards and gardens of vacant properties and targeting specific grot spot areas.
Environmental and street wardens will be stepping up their usual patrols and handing out fixed penalty notices to anyone caught dropping litter, allowing their dog to foul or breaking other environmental laws.
And the Pride team will be visiting and writing to local businesses to remind them of their responsibilities to ensure their waste is disposed of responsibly and to encourage them to join the Tidy Business Standards scheme.
Anyone wanting to find out more about the clean up can visit the BlitzBus, which will be stationed in Crawlaw Road, from 10am to 4pm on Tuesday, 24 June.
More information is also available by contacting the Pride in Easington team or (0191) 527 0501 or by e.mailing pride@easington.gov.uk