Now lets keep it clean

Mar 6 2008 by Catherine Evans, Rhymney Valley Express

PEOPLE power helped to spruce up Blackwood town centre at the end of February.

A major clean up was organised by the Gwent Youth Probation Service to remove fly posting and graffiti in the area and to power wash benches.

The next day, participants from the probation service and Caerphilly county borough council rolled up their sleeves to tackle litter and overgrown areas behind the High Street.

More than three tonnes of green waste for composting was collected and more than two tonnes of general rubbish was sorted out.

Enforcement officers also patrolled the High Street as part of the “Cleaner and Greener” educational campaign.

The clean-up received the backing of residents and Blackwood and traders in the town.

Caerphilly council’s cabinet member for the Environment, Coun David Poole, said: “I would like to express my thanks to everyone involved in the clean up of the town. Participants from the probation team, Fast Forward division and the Environmental Services Directorate should be very proud.

“Such work is very often a thankless task and the exercise shows how working together can really make a difference to the quality of our environment.”