Efforts to tackle litter and keep Hartlepool’s streets as clean as possible have received a big boost.
Two new manual litter-picking “barrow rounds” have been launched by Hartlepool Borough Council as part of its determination to tackle environmental issues affecting the lives of local residents.
These are new resources to complement the authority’s existing cleansing operations.
They are a key part of the Council’s Pride in Place programme which involves £1 million being invested in cleaner, safer neighbourhoods across the borough.
The extra money – a combination of council and government funding – represents the biggest spending boost of its kind in a decade and reflects new Leader of the Council Councillor Pamela Hargreaves’ decision to make cleaner and safer neighbourhoods the Council's number one priority for the coming year.
Improvements are being delivered through a series of Weeks of Action, with the first taking place this week in the Manor House ward.
Operated by father and son Lee Richardson and Dylan Woodier, the new barrows are focussing initially on Manor House and also Throston, but they will also be available for use in other areas.
The Council says it will look to add to them if they prove successful.
(Left-right): Dylan Woodier; Councillor Pamela Hargreaves, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council; Lee Richardson and Councillor Karen Oliver, Chair of the Neighbourhood Services Committee.
Councillor Pamela Hargreaves, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council and a Manor House Ward councillor, said: “Hartlepool is a town on the up with around £150 million being spent on range of significant regeneration projects.
“The Council is also committed to building stronger communities where people are proud to live, and improving local areas by tackling grassroots issues such as litter is a key element of that.
“It was a pleasure to meet Lee and Dylan recently and to witness their enthusiasm for their new roles.
“They bring a personal touch to street cleaning and their presence on the streets has been warmly welcomed by residents.”
The Council is also keen to recognise those residents who individually and collectively through organisations such as the Hartlepool Big Town Tidy Up and Poolie Pickers, regularly give up their time to pick litter.
Councillor Hargreaves added: “The Council cannot do everything on its own, so their efforts really are appreciated. These volunteers help to remove huge amounts of rubbish from our streets and this demonstrates what can be achieved when we come together in a common cause for the benefit of the borough.
“I would also ask people to support us by ensuring that they always dispose of their litter responsibly – either in a litter bin or by taking it home and putting it in their household bin.”