A week long programme of environmental events is going to help Chester-le-Street get ready to bloom for a Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) competition.
As part of Chester-le-Street’s RHS Northumbria in Bloom entry, Durham County Council has joined forces with schools, businesses and the local Area Action Partnership to enhance the environment in the town and strengthen community pride.
Chester-le-Street is taking park in the Large Town category of the competition having won a Silver Gilt award in 2015.
Cllr Brian Stephens, Durham County Council Cabinet member for local partnerships and neighbourhoods said: “It is great to see the enthusiasm of so many children wanting to keep Chester-le-Street looking its best.
“Their efforts and the involvement of local businesses and members of the Chester-le-Street community mean that everybody is doing their bit to give the town its best chance to win an ‘In Bloom’ award.”
James Bennett, Durham County Council’s Countywide Clean and Green Manager said: “Our Clean and Green teams and Neighbourhood Wardens are looking forward to working with the children of Chester-le-Street to show them the work that goes into keeping a town looking its best.”
Three local primary schools, Newker, Cestria and Chester-le-Street C of E Primary held a competition to design a new anti-litter poster which will be displayed throughout the town to remind people not to litter. The winning poster will be given to businesses and community buildings around the town to spread the anti-litter message as well as being reproduced on stickers that will be placed on every bin in the town centre and the Riverside Park.
Durham County Council’s Clean and Green teams will be focusing their efforts on the town centre during the Week of Action where they will be removing chewing gum from pavements, tackling overgrown weeds and tidying up herbaceous plant beds.
Neighbourhood wardens will be conducing increased enforcement patrols in Front Street and visiting businesses along with the Chester-le-Street Business Association to give advice on how to keep the town looking tidy.
The council’s Civic Pride team will be leading litter picks in the area with children from Parkview and Cestria Primary schools.