LITTER BIN BUSHES TO BE REPLACED:
City centre clean-up part of Operation Sparkle campaign
LITTER-STREWN bushes surrounding a city centre supermarket are to be cut back and replaced with wild flowers.
The overgrowth on the car park at Tesco Extra, in Etruria Road, is packed with rubbish discarded by shoppers and drivers.
Now business leaders will spruce up the area as part of Operation Sparkle – a radical action plan to bring back footfall to Hanley postpandemic.
Stoke-on-trent City Centre BID team – with the support of Tesco – will now clear the waste and replace it with an abundance of wild flowers.
Tesco general manager, Nathan Dowding, said: “As a business within the city centre, we recognise that we have a part to play in keeping the area clean.
“This is a fantastic initiative that provides a real opportunity for people to be part of the positive changes that so many people desire.
“We all have grumbles about litter and unkempt areas, but here’s the chance to do something about that and have some pride in the city which so many of us call home.
“People may complain that ‘it’s not their job’, but at a time where there is worldwide concern about lessening our environmental impact, it really does fall on everyone’s shoulders.” Currently the bushes are full of crisp and chocolate wrappers, beer cans, coffee cups and even traffic cones. Julie Davies, manager at Partnerships Against Business Crime in Staffordshire, said: “We all need to play our part in maintaining or improving our city centre’s standard.
“A clean, healthy environment is good for our city centre and our local economy.
“It plays an important role in improving our wellbeing and it helps our businesses to be more successful.
“After all, wouldn’t you prefer to shop, dine, and be entertained in tidy, gleaming surroundings?
“We expect all businesses to take personal responsibility for their surroundings, whilst the BID will take on tasks that do not fall under either the local authority or a business’ remit in the aim to clean up and improve our trading environment.
“Together, we can make a huge difference – but we do need everyone’s support to make this a success, and that includes anyone venturing into the area who we ask to be mindful and to bin their rubbish or take it home with them.”
Tesco shoppers have welcomed the clean-up.
Jeremy Smith, left, aged 57, from Blurton, said: “The cleaner the better.
“A lot of litter collects in the bushes around the car park.
It’s very good of Tesco to take responsibility for it.
“It will definitely look a lot better when it’s done. But the whole city could do with a good clean up. I look forward to seeing the improvements..”
And Yi Wang, aged 39, from Hanley, said: “There’s a lot of rubbish that collects in these bushes, so it’s definitely a good idea.
“The flowers will make it look a lot nicer and prettier. I’m glad Tesco are helping to do something about it. But the main thing is, people need to stop dropping litter.”