North East Lincolnshire Council is relaunching a scheme to help communities safely clean an alleyway or open space in their neighbourhood.
Clear It aims to help people who live with alleyways or patches of neglected land that suffer with fly-tipping and littering.
Last year, the scheme helped to transform several alleyways across the area including Castle Street on Grimsby’s East Marsh, with over seven tonnes of waste cleared including a fridge and unicorn head.
This year, applications open on Wednesday, 1 November, with anyone interested asked to email [email protected]. by the end of December to apply.
It’s hoped that, should there be enough applicants, the Council will be able to help clean an alleyway or piece of land in each ward, with work starting in the New Year.
How does it work?
With Clear It, the Voluntary Community Clearance scheme, the Council aims to support communities to come together, safely clean up an alleyway or an open space in their area and improve community pride.
Volunteers will take responsibility for removing waste from an alleyway or patch of land and Council staff will help dispose of it.
The Council will also lend equipment such as litter pickers, bin bags and large bins.
Officers will arrange a site meeting with successful applicants to assess the site, the amount of waste and agree a date for the work.
Councillor Henry Hudson, portfolio holder for Environment and Net Zero, said: “We’re bringing back Clear It to help those who are willing to come together and clear illegally dumped waste from an alleyway or patch of neglected land that’s not owned by the Council.
“When we first launched Clear It in 2022, we helped volunteers dispose of 48.73 tonnes of illegally dumped waste from problem areas.
“We’d like to see these types of spaces given a fresh start so they become vibrant places the community can enjoy and make better use of.
“If you are keen to transform a neglected alleyway or patch of land, please use the online application form at www.nelincs.gov.uk/alleyways .”
Councillor Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for Safer and Stronger Communities, added: “Clear It gives people the opportunity to work with their neighbours and take ownership of their shared space.
“We sympathise with people whose lives are affected by mess left in their alleyways and want to do as much as we can to help them.
“Not all wards have alleyways, so to make the scheme fair and open to all parts of the borough, we are including patches of land that aren’t part of the Council’s usual street cleansing duties. These might be small areas where the owner can’t be traced or where it’s not clear who’s responsible for it.
“We’re willing to help those who organise themselves and put plans in place to try and bring their alleyway or a neglected patch of land into use after we’ve helped them by disposing of the rubbish.”
Visit www.nelincs.gov.uk/alleyways/ for more details. If you have questions about the scheme, please email [email protected].
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