The Tidy Shrewsbury Group is holding its AGM on Thursday 13 March 2008 at 6 pm at The Guildhall, Frankwell Quay, Shrewsbury. The meeting will highlight the good work that the group has done since it was founded 6 years ago. The group has delivered tens of thousands of hours worth of voluntary litter picking in the community helping to keep Shrewsbury tidy in the process.
Further by acting as the eyes and ears of the Council's Street Cleansing Team, they have directly enhanced the efficiency of the service. Through helping with litter bin audits, to feeding back residents' priorities for their area to actively monitoring hot spots, the group has made a real difference and helped tackle environmental crime and keep our town clean and green.
The group is actively seeking to recruit new members who will act in a liaison capacity between their community and the Council. Members are in effect acting as volunteer litter wardens, policing and being the environmental champions for their area and communicating with the Council's waste management team to help address community concerns.
The group currently has representatives from most areas of the town, but it is keen to ensure a broader coverage and would especially like to hear from residents in Monkmoor, Ditherington, Gains Park, Bayston Hill and Cross Houses. People from other neighbourhoods are asked to represent their area and attend quarterly meetings with the Council. Tidy Shrewsbury members also help to organise litter picks and get involved in many community environmental projects helping to keep their area tidy.
Ron Iremonger, Chairman of the Tidy Shrewsbury Group, says "If you are interested in the work that our group does to improve the area and would like to get involved please ring the Council waste management hotline 01743 281155 for further information."
Cllr. Mrs. Judith Williams, Portfolio Holder for street scene at SABC says "The Council is delighted to see communities tackling this issue head on. This scheme helps improve the appearance of the area at no direct cost to the Council taxpayer. In part it's groups like this, which make Shrewsbury such a clean, green and pleasant place to be and I applaud the work that they do."
NB - This coming Saturday 8 March 2008, the Tidy Shrewsbury Group will be picking litter in the Frankwell and Mountfields area. Volunteers should meet at St. George's Church in Mountfields at 2.15 pm. Black sacks and equipment will be provided. All welcome.
Notes to editor –
The Tidy Shrewsbury group was formed in 2001 and formally constituted in 2002 as a partnership between the community and the Borough Council. It is chaired by Ron Iremonger from the National Trust and involves officers and members from Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council along with a core group of around 40 committed volunteers.
Work is carried out independently, however, Council Officers from time to time assist with technical support for example with grant applications, designing and printing educational/marketing materials and offer general advice and direction particularly with regard to environmental legislation and health and safety issues.
The Council has bought personal protective equipment such as gloves, high visibility branded tabards and litter grabbers which is loaned to members on request and adequate insurance is provided for volunteers by the Borough Council by the way of a certificate of public insurance from Zurich Municipal.
The group is a fully constituted independent not-for-profit organisation which is affiliated to the ENCAMS ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ Campaign. It is grant aided by Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council and further financial support has been forthcoming from the President, the Earl of Bradford.
The primary purpose of the partnership is to engage the local community to ensure that residents live and work in a cleaner more environmentally friendly environment. Further by facilitating volunteering it encourages life long learning and enhances community cohesion.
James Thompson, Recycling and Sustainability Officer
Tel: 01743 281155
email: waste@shrewsbury.gov.uk
Ron Iremonger, Chairman, Tidy Shrewsbury Group
e-mail: ron.iremonger@btinternet.com
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