Clean team move 700 tyres from beauty spot
A STAGGERING 700 tyres which had been dumped at a beauty spot near NORDEN have been cleaned up by volunteers.
Community group the Friends of Ashworth Valley organised the event to tackle fly-tipping in Ashworth Valley.
Hundreds of tyres have been dumped in the popular walking spot on a regular basis over a number of years.
Fridges and household rubbish were also cleared during the clean-up.
Around 80 volunteers joined in the event, which was supported by Heywood firefighters and community groups from the borough and further afield.
The clean-up saw volunteers clear two sites within the valley.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service provided specialist equipment to assist with the project.
Martin Whiteley, spokesperson for the Friends, said the tyres have been dumped on the land on a regular basis over the past two-to-three years.
He added: “The volunteers arrived en masse through the fog all geared up and ready to go, fired up with a continuous supply of bacon and egg butties.
“Our human chain of volunteers retrieved around 700 tyres from a steep embankment, before clearing a second site of tyres, fridge freezers and household rubbish.
“We cannot get over the sense of community spirit and camaraderie we had, with volunteers coming from far and wide and so many people giving their time and effort. What an achievement. Thank you one and all.”
Firefighters from Heywood station’s white watch helped out on the day after retired firefighter Phil Cockcroft and serving officer Austin Holden got involved.
Also lending a hand were the North Manchester Muslim Group, Sea Cadets, Rochdale Environmental Action Group, Rochdale council’s environmental management team and councillors Jim Gartside, Mike Holly and Peter Winkler.
“It was great to have such a positive community effort and we hope it will encourage other events in the future,” added Austin. “The sad thing is that with the ongoing cuts, organisations like Rochdale council do not have the resources to organise major events like this at the moment. The great work done by Martin and the group demonstrates the change in ethos we need to adopt.”
For more information or to contact the Friends, visit the group’s Facebook page.