By timesecholife on in All News, Featured News
A GROUP of volunteers who meet monthly to clean the streets of their town celebrated their one-year anniversary on Monday. The Cheadle Moorlands Litter Pickers have been keeping the streets of their town clean for the last 12 months after members were “fed up of seeing a mess on the streets.” Started by Nicola Cooper with mum Christine Broad, the group meets on the first Sunday of every month to collect litter that has been discarded in public spaces such as the high street and town centre.
Nicola told the Times and Echo: “We want to make the place look nice for visitors and businesses.
“A group of anywhere between six to ten of us go out to do it.
“We’re out for between four and six hours a time.
“We collect 20 bags plus every time.
“We pull up weeds as well as collect litter.”
The 45-year-old said that a bursary from councillors has helped the litter pickers buy equipment to help them in their tasks.
She added: “The councillors have helped.
“We received a grant off the council and bought equipment from Homepoint in Cheadle.”
“We just want to put pride back into the town.”
A spokesperson for the movement on their Facebook page said: “On 5th August 2018, the Cheadle Moorlands Litter Pickers were founded by Nicola Cooper of Cheadle, Staffordshire Moorlands.
“A group of 12 litter pickers came together following concerns about neglect in the town highlighted in local media.
“The mission of the litter pickers is to make Cheadle a cleaner place, to de-litter and tidy the town and nearby surrounding area on behalf of residents and visitors.
“The Cheadle Moorlands Litter Pickers will meet at 10am on the High Street first Sunday of each month outside Bargain Booze and we welcome anyone who wishes to join us in our mission.
“While de-littering Cheadle collectively we need to consider the effects of litter pollution on the town and rural environment.
“Those who drop litter in Cheadle or who throw it from their cars in the town or in surrounding countryside are the problem but collectively and with a conscience, we are the solution.
“It is now time for all of us to go out of our way to pick up trash littering the town of Cheadle.
“We must all work towards making Cheadle a cleaner, tidier and litter free place.”
Nicola, who said the group is always looking for more people to help out, encourages anyone who wants to join to contact the ‘Cheadle Moorlands Litter Pickers’ page on Facebook.
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