Great Yarmouth community comes together to complete spring clean

Co-ordinated by Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Great Yarmouth Community Clean Up Week saw community volunteers, local businesses, councillors and council staff from across the council's service areas all help out with the special seasonal spruce up.

Last week, council staff and councillors, businesses, community groups and residents got involved in cleaning, weeding and litter-picking activities in those areas in need of focussed attention, helping to make a real difference within communities.

Working alongside cleansing operatives from GYB Services Ltd, the council's operational partner, councillors and council staff from across the council's service areas completed Clean Up sessions at a number of locations, including Great Yarmouth Market Place and rows, Diana Way in Caister, Victoria Park in Gorleston, and Beach Road in Hemsby.

Among those from the community who ran litter-picks were Andover House Hotel and the Civic Society of Great Yarmouth, which focussed on different parts of urban Yarmouth, and youngsters from St Nicholas Priory Primary School and City College Norwich, who undertook beach litter-picks.  

Cllr Penny Carpenter, chairman of the environment committee, said: "Great Yarmouth Community Clean Up Week was a special spring clean, organised as part of the national Great British Spring Clean campaign, with the aims of boosting community pride and enhancing the environment.

"I myself got involved in one of the Clean Up sessions, and I would like to thank all the residents, businesses, borough councillors and staff who joined in across the borough, helping to make a real difference within communities. It was particularly great to see people of different ages taking part.

"This was a special spring clean of target locations, complimenting the work undertaken throughout the year by the cleansing operatives and dedicated community groups. If your group would like to apply for a grant for equipment or support for litter-picking, the council has grants available."

Hugh Sturzaker, chairman of the Civic Society of Great Yarmouth, said: "A key aim of the Civic Society is to build community pride. A great way of achieving this is to provide opportunities, like the Clean Up Week, for people to get involved and contribute to enhancing their environment and neighbourhoods. Every fortnight, we litter-pick along the course of the Town Wall, from the Minster to Blackfriars as well as adjacent roads, and we are always looking for people to join in. We also litter-pick in other areas."

Victoria Newstead, of Andover House Hotel, said: "We work hard throughout the year to ensure our street is clean and tidy and represents our hotel in the best possible way. These Clean Up projects are a great opportunity to get involved and help enhance Great Yarmouth's appearance, especially during the warmer months when we see a growth in tourism in the town." 

To apply for a grant, visit www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/community-clear-up-form [now closed]. For support with the application process, contact the council's Neighbourhood  Neighbourhoods Teams: Make it Happen, Comeunity or MESH.