Clean sweep of untidy neighbourhood

9:00am Tuesday 25th March 2008

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LITTER was picked, roads were swept, rubbish was removed and that was just the start of it during a district council sweep of the Woodfields estate in Cam.

Stroud District Council's CHIP and PIN day, which stands for community help in partnership people in neighbourhoods, is aimed at cleaning estates and offering health, safety, fitness and fire advice to residents.

The council, along with the fire service, police and environmental health, descended on the Woodfields estate last Wednesday and Thursday to clean-up the area.

Barbara Powell, parish councillor for Cam, said: "Litter can be a problem in the area, especially if the teenagers have been hanging around on the playing field.

"But there are some helpful neighbours around here who go around litter picking.

"There has been a lot of interest in the CHIP and PIN day from residents in the area.

"It is just about giving the estate a general spring clean and getting people to get rid of all the rubbish in their gardens that usually makes the place look a mess."

Clive Edwards, neighbourhood warden for Cam, said: "Litter and dog fouling is always a problem around here. I put up some signs about dog fouling in the area but several of them have been ripped down, which is a shame.

"We try to do what we can but it is out of our control if people won't clear up after their dogs.

"I am hoping the dog wardens handing out poop scoop bags might help combat the problem.

"The people I was talking to have been happy to see us in the area and are glad to see the area improve."

Residents received fire and safety advice and free fire alarm fittings, as well as advice on health and fitness and energy efficiency.

Catherine Hill, from Gloucestershire environmental health, said: "We have been busy giving advice on a range of things from noise issues to bonfires. Lots of local residents have been interested and asked lots of questions."