A city centre Day of Action on 18 December proved to be a resounding success, tackling littering, cleaning the area, and engaging residents and businesses in the process.
Colchester City Council’s Street Care and Safety Team, working alongside community volunteers, took part in a busy day of action to tackle littering, fly tipping and supporting the community in and around North Station Road. These action-days are incredibly important; not just for making the city cleaner and safer but showing the community that the council acts on important issues.
Key outcomes include:
- Removed 15 bags of litter, a fly-tip, two shopping trolleys, a metal road sign, three pallets, as well as various items of metal and rubbish from the river.
- Cleared six graffiti tags from street furniture and bins.
- Volunteers from the Civic Society weeded and trimmed vegetation around the North Station Road Bridge and traffic islands.
- Educated three residential properties on waste and recycling practices.
- Engaged with local businesses, including discussions on a long-standing fly-tipping issue with one business owner, who has agreed to clear waste and consider preventative measures such as CCTV or gates.
- Met with a property management company to discuss installing temporary CCTV at Midland House to deter fly-tipping.
- Collaborated with a local supermarket owner to ensure construction waste and debris were removed promptly, preventing further litter on North Station Road.
- Discussed recurring issues at one residential property and one business with the Environmental Protection team.
- Engaged with an individual actively begging in the area who will be given a Community Protection Warning (CPW). A CPW is a written warning before any formal action is taken.
Cllr Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Neighbourhoods and Leisure, said: “A heartfelt thank you to our Street Care and Safety Team and to the volunteers who came out and made a real difference. Their efforts are a true testament to our community spirit.
“The Day of Action may be over, but the work on street care is not. We encourage everyone to do their bit by picking up litter when they see it and disposing of it responsibly and reporting any fly tips if you see them.”
If you'd like to get involved in litter picking, join the growing team of over 600 Litter Warriors who are committed to picking litter in their local communities on a regular basis, contact community.volunteers@colchester.gov.uk.
Residents are also encouraged to report fly-tipping and other environmental issues through the council’s website. By working together, we can keep Colchester clean and beautiful for everyone to enjoy!
Page last reviewed: 23 December 2024