A campaign which aims to get County Durham front streets looking shipshape is heading to its second destination.
Operation Spruce Up is Durham County Council’s plan to work with community groups to carry out a ‘deep clean’ of 14 town and village centres.
The programme, which will see one location given a ‘spruce up’ each month up until December 2017, was launched in Spennymoor in November and is now heading for Fencehouses.
Work will begin in the centre of Fencehouses, taking in Gill Crescent North and South, South Crescent and Morton Crescent, from Monday 12 December.
It will see bins replaced, gullies and paths cleansed of litter, chewing gum removed, streetlights cleaned, benches painted and road markings refreshed.
The work will involve many of the council’s departments: clean and green, civic pride, regeneration, buildings and facilities management and highways, as well as representatives from Chester-le-Street Area Action Partnership (AAP.)
Local children will be heavily involved with members of 1st Bournmoor Scout Group helping out on the ground.
Pupils from Woodlea Primary School will also be working with the civic pride team on a competition to design anti-litter posters.
The winning design will be displayed in businesses throughout the village to encourage people to dispose of their rubbish responsibly.
Oliver Sherratt, the council’s head of direct services, said: “Operation Spruce Up has got off to a great start and I know from the people I’ve spoken to at Spennymoor that they’re happy with the work that’s been done there so far.
“We are looking forward to getting started at Fencehouses and working with the AAP and local children to get the village centre looking its best in time for Christmas.”
Operation Spruce Up will see one town or village chosen from within the boundaries of each AAP.
Locations will be identified over the course of the 14 months based on need.
The work at Spennymoor has involved children from Rosa Street Primary School teaming up with the council’s anti-litter mascot Tidy Ted to carry out planting in the town centre.
Rosa Street headteacher Helen Ashton said: “The children really enjoyed helping out and were delighted to spend some time with Tidy Ted!
“Being involved in Operation Spruce Up can only help their education and it’s great to see how clean and tidy Spennymoor is looking as a result of the work that’s been carried out so far.”
To find out more about the campaign, visit www.durham.gov.uk/spruceup or search #SpruceUp on social media.