Local NHS frontline worker unites with community hero's in tackling littered streets.
Rabina Asghar, a local front line NHS worker and Lib Dem campaigner along with Local volunteers have been coming together for the last few weeks working as a team to keep Spotland & Falinge tidy.
A group of volunteers of all ages have been working tremendously in clearing and tidying up our local area. It was an amazing sight to see how passionate the whole team was especially our young generation volunteering to keep their neighbourhoods clean. All those taking part in the clear up, really enjoyed themselves and felt proud of playing a constructive part for their community.
Local NHS frontline worker & Lib Dem campaigner for Spotland & Falinge Rabina Asghar said that 'when I was out visiting local residents throughout the last few months litter and fly tipping was one of many concerns raised. "I went out of my way on my days off from work and organised for some litter pickers, gloves, bags and high vis jackets to begin cleaning up our area as I wanted to make a move myself first and then when others see they will want to join in too". Rabina Asghar went on to say that, "although our waste collectors come around every three weeks, I believe its important for every individual to also play their part too in ensuring they are keeping their areas clean and if they notice any fly-tipping to report it to the local authorities". "If we are going to continue to fight Covid19 we must ensure that cleanliness is our number one priority"
The great tidy up has been done on a few separate occasions now and we will continue with this collectively as a whole group in ensuring our streets are kept clean. Local campaigner for the Spotland & Falinge ward Rabina Asghar said "It is so good that volunteers are Involved too and I would like to say a big thank you to all the local residents who volunteered alongside me and gave their valuable time on the weekends to go out and clean our streets". Rabina Asghar went to further say that "when we was out litter picking, I have had local residents stopping me and raising their concerns around litter and flytipping". The main issue raised was bin collection, and that they would like to see weekly bin collections as currently it is every three weeks and because of that they feel people are resorting to fly tipping. I reassured them that I would be raising this issue and taking it further. "Being on the frontline through this pandemic has been tough but it's also been very rewarding but alongside that I also felt that in my spare time I could still do more and this is where this initiative started from and I will continue with this and every clean up we seem to be getting more and more volunteers".
Amongst the volunteers there was many youth who also showed how passionate they are about their area being clean. Rabina Asghar said that "I am delighted to be working with our youth and I do empathise with them as there absolutely minimal activities available for them in the area, and to top it all they have been suffering quietly due to the COVID-19 pandemic". We do need to keep our areas clean and at the same time we must think about the future of our youth.
Through the clean up scores of rubbish bags were filled with litter collected from the main streets, alleyways and abandoned walkways.
It was really nice to see how united our community is in wanting to keep our area clean and fight Covid19 head on. Tackling litter and fly tipping is one of my many main priorities. The weather was also on our side on every clean up we have done and it was so nice of the local residents who showed great hospitality and offered us refreshments.
I want to give appreciation to our local waste department who also work tirelessly on a daily basis walking around with litter pickers and bags cleaning up litter off the streets. They play a vital role in keeping our streets clean and it is just as important that we acknowledge them too.