A brand new campaign encouraging community pride across North Tyneside officially launched today (March 22).
Love Your Street is a new initiative inviting residents, schools, businesses and community groups to take an active role in caring for their communities.
The project, which complements the work carried out by North Tyneside Council’s environmental teams, is supported by the Police and Fire Service.
Love Your Street encourages residents to look after their neighbourhoods as individuals - by not dropping litter and clearing up after their dogs – and as groups to organise community activities such as litter picks and flower planting.
North Tyneside Council will support the efforts, supplying litter pickers and bags for any street clean-ups, and offering to collect any rubbish collected afterwards.
Elected Mayor Norma Redfearn said: “We know that keeping North Tyneside clean and tidy is very important to residents, and that local people are very proud of our award-winning open spaces and the cleanliness of our streets.
“Love Your Street is a fantastic opportunity to harness the wonderful community spirit in North Tyneside, and to support those residents who are making a real difference to their neighbourhoods.”
Many groups across the borough are already working together to care for their neighbourhoods. One resident, Michael Robson from Wallsend, has transformed a vacant piece of land in his neighbourhood into a community garden featuring planters, flower beds and gravel paths.
Mr Robson said: “This started small but, together with my neighbours, we’ve managed to create a nice space for everyone to enjoy.
“The council is going to provide us with trees and wildflower seeds to improve the area even more – we can’t wait to see it in the summer.”
A resource pack has been created to help residents get started, and a Love Your Street awards will take place at the end of the year to reward those communities and individuals that get involved. Plus this year, for the first time, there will be a Love Your Street award as part of the annual North Tyneside in Bloom competition.
A free resource pack is available from the North Tyneside Council website to help residents who want to get involved in Love Your Street.
Anyone interested in getting involved with Love Your Street can do so by visiting www.northtyneside.gov.uk, or by emailing loveyourstreet@northtyneside.gov.uk.
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