250 bags collected in big spring clean

THE Valley’s Great British Spring Clean saw volunteers out in force.

More than 250 bags of litter were collected in one weekend for the council to remove after community clean-up events.

Rossendale council’s chief executive Stuart Sugarman and head of operations Paul McHenry joined Coun Christine Lamb and Civic Pride for litter collecting in Newchurch.

Mr Sugarman said: “Cleaning up litter is so costly to the council and so much of it can easily be prevented by people taking it home or putting it in bins.

“We live in a very scenic area and it shouldn’t get spoilt by litter. We owe volunteers like this a huge amount of thanks for their continued support all year round.”

Coun Lamb, Rossendale council’s executive member for operations, said: “It is great to see so many people out and about over the weekend doing their bit. We are very lucky to have a strong volunteer base.”

Roger Grimshaw, from Civic Pride, said: “This weekend was testament, yet again, to the sheer enthusiasm and hard work of willing volunteers across the Valley.

“Pride groups alone collected an amazing 259 bags plus other larger pieces of detritus.” ●● Civic Pride volunteers in Newchurch alongside council chief executive Stuart Sugarman, head of operations Paul McHenry and Coun Christine Lamb