Cumberland Conservatives are holding a “grot spot action weekend” to tackle the overgrown eyesores and rubbish blighting our streets.
The two-day cleaning blitz is the latest phase in a long-running campaign launched to help local people access council services and to help improve the overall appearance of community spaces.
From cleaning road signs to litter picking, from scrubbing graffiti to weeding – the initiative aims to show that we all have the power to make a difference.
The initiative was kicked off last summer by Mark Jenkinson, the Member of Parliament for the Workington constituency, as part of a concerted effort to show the amazing results that can be accomplished when we all work together.
Over the last year Mark has worked to tackle numerous grot spots in addition to his more typical constituency casework and parliamentary duties.
In that time, he has painted bus shelters, scrubbed filthy signs, weeded overgrown pavements, and joined teams of litter-pickers to clear roadside rubbish.
“It is amazing how much can be achieved just by giving up a few hours of your time to do something targeted like this.
“I want everyone to take pride in and ownership of their community. The point is to show that a handful of volunteers – or even one person – can make a big and noticeable difference.
“Since I launched this campaign a year ago, I have received many reports of grots spots – and identifying them has allowed myself and the Cumberland Conservatives to focus our efforts.”
MARK JENKINSON MP
On Saturday 2nd April there will be a litter pick from 9am organised by Coun Colin Sharpe, candidate for the Seaton ward to remove graffiti from the freshly-painted bus shelter on Mitchell Avenue. Later the same day, from 11 am, Coun Deb Garton, candidate for St John’s Ward, has arranged a cleaning and de-mossing of the large road sign on the A596 between the Police Station and Workington Hall, followed by a general litter pick of the area. And from 1pm John Connell, the Conservative candidate for St Michael’s ward, will be litter-picking, de-mossing and weeding the alley behind Devonshire Street.
“I am looking forward to making a difference – and I hope this is the first of many similar initiatives in St Michael’s ward and across the wards of the new unitary Cumberland Council.
“Local authorities can only achieve so much on their own and we could all do more to make our communities better. Volunteers also have a really important part to play in tackling grot spots – and we can call do our bit.”
JOHN CONNELL, CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE FOR ST MICHAELS
On Sunday 3rd April Steve Newton, candidate for Maryport North Ward, will be leading a general litter pick, weeding and tidy up of Fleming Square, Maryport from 10am.
Coun Neil Rumbold, Candidate for Dearham and Broughton Ward, will be involved in a clean-up of the former traveller encampment at the Little Broughton Junction of the A594 from 12pm.
And from 2pm, Harrington ward candidate Chris Clarkin is undertaking a general litter pick and clean-up of the cycle track at High Harrington.