A programme which aims to get County Durham communities shipshape is moving on to its next destination.
Operation Spruce Up comes to Evenwood on Tuesday 16 May and will see staff from Durham County Council leading a ‘deep clean’ of the village.
Work is planned for Swan Street, Jubilee Terrace, Raby Street, Evenwood Lane, Chapel Street, Copeland Lane and surrounding areas
It will involve the sweeping, clearing and edging of footpaths – with weeds and chewing gum to be removed and jet washing carried out. It will also involve painting and cleaning of bollards, railings, tubs and benches.
Channels and gullies will be cleared, old bins replaced, weeds removed from green spaces, shrub beds taken out, pruned and replanted, trees pruned and street markings renewed.
Signs will be put up at roadsides warning motorists they face £80 Fixed Penalty Notices if caught throwing litter from vehicles.
Litter picks will also be carried out with Evenwood Primary School and North Star Housing.
The council’s civic pride team, aided by its anti- litter mascot Tidy Ted, will be delivering an assembly in the school and organising a poster competition for pupils, both of which will aim to educate them on the importance of looking after the environment.
The work has been planned in partnership with the Teesdale Area Action Partnership (AAP.)
Oliver Sherratt, the council’s head of direct services, said: “Our aim is to get Evenwood looking as clean and tidy as possible and it’s great to have schoolchildren, the AAP and North Star Housing involved.”
Operation Spruce Up was launched in November and calls at a new town or village centre each month.
One location from each of the council’s AAP areas will be ‘Spruced up’ before the programme ends in December.
The campaign saw activity in Bowburn in April, with work taking place on the A177, Durham Road, and surrounding areas and involving East Durham Rural Corridor AAP.
Pupils and staff from Bowburn Primary School and workers from Bowburn Services McDonald’s joined council staff in a litter pick, collecting 12 bags worth.
The civic pride team went into the school for assemblies and a poster competition, with the winning entry to go on display in businesses and community buildings around Bowburn.
Residents, businesses and communities can find out more about Operation Spruce Up by emailing the civic pride team at civicpride@durham.gov.uk, visiting www.durham.gov.uk/spruceup or phoning 03000 261 000.
Anyone dropping litter is liable to face an £80 Fixed Penalty Notice. Members of the public can report littering at www.durham.gov.uk/litter