Aimee O'LoughlinLove Where You Live York is holding a project to clean up the streets of Ratcliffe, Bake Street and Newborough Street. Today volunteers and residents will be meeting at Burton Stone Lane, at the Community Hub Lounge Café, at 11:00 am before beginning the community clean-up. Everyone is welcome to join in, as Councillor Dafydd Williams, the Cabinet member for Communities and Neighbourhoods states, “…whether they want to come and help for the whole three hours or just for 30 minutes. It really is about taking part and showing that you love where you live.” All equipment needed will be provided for volunteers, all they need is your support.
Love Where You Live York originated from the larger campaign, run by Keep Britain Tidy, called national Love Where You Live. The City of York Council ‘s Street Environment team joins alliances with the Clifton Policing team and local volunteers to pick up litter, weed and sweep the streets of York. The main aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the increasing litter that is occurring all around York, encouraging people to, as the title reflects, love where they live. It is, as their website states, “.. all about sharing the good things about York and inspiring residents, employers and organisations to join us and take action to reduce litter and make our communities cleaner and stronger.” The project involves volunteers of any age to join in to show their love for their own local area, participating in the community improvement events that their area is holding. The event is a great way of coming together as a community, and meeting your locals who you may not have encountered before, as well as improving the area.
The campaign will also be holding six community litter picks events to help create awareness and improve the local environment during the next few weeks. Some of which include the York Collage on 20 May in which they educate students on the effects of litter. There are also other opportunities to join with your local area for a community litter pick. During 4 May, there will be an event in Bachelor Hill, as well as Acomb Wood Meadow for a litter pick event.
“This is a brilliant way to bring together lots of people from the local community in a way which will benefit the community.” stated Williams. If you’re proud of your city, and love where you live, make sure you do something about it!
If you would like to get involved, or want more information about this project, email at streetenvironment.campaigns@york.gov.uk. You can also follow their tweets at, @LWYLYork, or visit their website here.
