Published: Thursday 29th February 2024 | 12.44pm
Cannock Chase Council is appealing to residents to pledge to pick one bag of litter or more for Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean campaign as the charity marks its 70th anniversary
Cannock Chase Council has today backed a bid to pick litter from the District’s streets and public spaces during Britain’s favourite environmental charity’s clean-up campaign.
Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean campaign, which runs from 15-31 March, is calling on residents across the District to show their pride in their community by taking part in the mass action litter pick. A significant number of Local Councillors have pledged their voluntary support to this years campaign too.
The Council is delighted to lend its support to back the charity’s #BigBagChallenge – a plea to the public to pledge on the charity’s website to pick one bag or more of litter from streets, parks, beauty spots and beaches in order to protect our vibrant communities and precious wildlife habitats.
Every year the Council supports individuals, community organisations, schools and businesses with bags and the loan of litter pickers and hoops.
This year’s campaign comes as Keep Britain Tidy marks its platinum anniversary, having been founded by Women’s Institute members in 1954, and the Council has joined forces with the charity to highlight to residents that the environment ‘belongs to everyone’. People can make a #PlatinumPledge to mark Keep Britain Tidy’s 70th year such as by picking 70 items, 70 bags, or spending 70 minutes in the great outdoors litter-picking.
The charity reports that last year:
• 96% of participants agreed that they felt they had made a difference to their local area.
• 84% agreed that the Great British Spring Clean helped them to feel inspired to do more to protect the environment.
Councillor Andrea Muckley, Portfolio Leader for Environment and Climate Change said “The environment belongs to everyone. We at Cannock Chase Council believe that it is everyone's responsibility to ensure they do not drop litter and to take pride in our local area.
“I’m grateful for Keep Britain Tidy’s campaign as it highlights the issue of littering and it brings everyone together to do something about it by tidying up our District. I took part in a litter pick last week and it's a great opportunity to clean up the neighbourhood and to make new friends. I've always found that a litter pick is a wonderful way to spend an hour as it's such a sociable activity and it is very satisfying to see the result of an hour's work.
“I will most certainly be taking part in the #BigBagChallenge will you?”
The Great British Spring Clean, now in its ninth year, brings together individuals, community organisations, businesses and councils to make a difference to the environment on our doorstep.
Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, said: “The Great British Spring Clean simply would not be possible without the backing of our community partners.
“We are so grateful for the ongoing support from Cannock Chase Council.
“The Great British Spring Clean is a fantastic way for councils to support residents to really show their pride in where they live, and connect with like-minded people, while taking serious and immediate action to protect the environment on their doorstep.
“During this year’s campaign, we are highlighting that the environment belongs to everyone, and that everyone is welcome to join in with our activities and 70th anniversary celebrations.
“Local authorities play a critical role in engaging and supporting volunteers on the ground. “Whether it’s a pledge to pick one bag - or 70 for our anniversary Cannock Chase District can feel proud to see their armies of #LitterHeroes volunteers carrying out these acts of kindness to make the District a cleaner, safer place for our future generations.”
The Council can help by providing litter picking equipment and will collect the bags of rubbish you collect. Contact the Street Cleansing team on 01543 462621 or email streetcleansing@cannockchasedc.gov.uk.
Get involved in the Great British Spring Clean today by pledging at: www.keepbritaintidy.org/gbspringclean and using the hashtags #GBSpringClean #BigBagChallenge