• Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

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Volunteers out in force to launch Big Spring Clean

Volunteers were out in force for the launch of this year’s LitterFree Durham & Darlington Big Spring Clean earlier yesterday (Monday).

Organised in partnership with Darlington Borough Council and Durham County Council, the LitterFreeDurham & Darlington initiative runs from Monday 19 February until Sunday 15 April and will see litter picks organised across Darlington and County Durham.

The Big Spring Clean was launched in Darlington as around 30 volunteers took part in a community litter pick in the South Park.

Last year more than 2,690 people took part in 193 community litter picks and collected 2,899 bags of rubbish. In Darlington alone, 1,085 people joined 62 litter picks during which 1,099 bags of rubbish and 3 tonnes of bulky waste were collected.

Councillor Nick Wallis, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for leisure and the local environment, said:

“We have a growing army of Street Champions who regularly take part in litter picks across the borough and more and more people are joining in the annual Big Spring Clean. We’re incredibly grateful for the efforts of all those who take part in this initiative and those who help keep #OurStreets clean year round.

“Litter is a problem for us all and obviously the best thing would be for people not to drop litter – but we’d also like to call on people to take positive action if they do see it by picking it up. If everyone picked up just one piece of litter every day, think of the difference it would make!”

Councillor Gerald Lee, chair of LitterFree Durham & Darlington, added:

“LitterFree Durham & Darlington’s Big Spring Clean has now been running for more than ten years and every year the numbers of volunteers who take part keep increasing. It is great to see so many people in Darlington taking pride and ownership in their own communities by taking action themselves. It’s absolutely brilliant!”

Join in your nearest litter pick – other events confirmed so far include:

Firthmoor – Wednesday 21 February, 3pm start. Meet at Firthmoor Community Centre.

Aberdeen Road – Thursday 22 February, 10am start. Meet at Aberdeen Road.

Maidendale – Saturday 24 February, 10am start. Meet in the car part at the bottom of Salters Lane (near Cummins).

Red Hall – Tuesday 27 February, 10am start. Meet at entrance off Coombe Drive, near Deepdale Way.

Eastbourne Park – Friday 2 March, 10am start. Meet at Eastbourne Road entrance.

The Denes – Saturday 3 March, 10am start. Meet at the play dene (Greenbank Rd / Widdowfield St).

North Lodge Park – Monday 5 March, 10am start. Meet at the play area.

Cocker Beck – Sunday 6 March, 10am start. Meet at the car park opposite Edgecombe Drive.

Mowden – Monday 12  March, 11am-2pm. Meet at the green space at Staindrop Road / Edgecombe Drive.

North Park – Monday 19 March, 10am start. Meet at Cumberland Street entrance.

Drinkfield Marsh – Saturday 24 March, 1pm start. Come along and help the Friends of Drinkfield Marsh spring clean the reserve.  Meet at the stone wall in the centre of the reserve.

Walworth – Sunday 25 March, 10am start. Meet at The Grange, Walworth.

Brinkburn – Tuesday 27 March, 10am start. Meet at Hartington Way.

Baydale Beck – Tuesday 3 April, 10am start. Meet at Edgecombe Drive/Staindrop Road.

Firthmoor – Wednesday 4 April, 1pm start. Meet at Firthmoor Community Centre.

£5 Note Bridge – Thursday 5 April, 10am start. Meet at the bottom of Henry Street.

West Park – Tuesday 10 April, 10am start. Meet at the main entrance, off West Auckland Road.

Broken Scar – Friday 13 April, 10am start. Meet at the top car park near the play area.

To register to help clean up your local area or arrange a litter pick, email litterfreedurham@darlington.gov.uk or call 01325 406719. We will also share details of other community litter picks on Facebook and Twitter.

For information about how you can help keep ‘Our Streets’ clean and how to organise a litter pick log onto the website at www.darlington.gov.uk/litterpick and don’t forget to tell us, and others, about your efforts on social media using the #OurStreets hashtag.

By admin