Clean team up for an award

Dec 12 2008 by Lynn Jolly, Paisley Daily Express

A HUGELY successful Paisley Daily Express campaign to keep our streets looking spick and span is in line for a prestigious award.

We joined forces with Renfrewshire Council to encourage people to do their bit to keep their area looking good.

And hundreds of environmentally- friendly folk have got behind the multi-million pound Clean Renfrewshire campaign by tidying up their schools and neighbourhoods.

Residents have also come on board by reporting littering and dog fouling, as well as general issues of ground maintenance.

Now the campaign has reached the final stages in the Promoting Sustainability category of the 2009 Cosla Excellence Awards, guaranteeing at least a Bronze Excellence Award Certificate.

Our campaign will compete against others by nine other local authorities from across Scotland at the awards ceremony, which will take place in March next year.

The annual Cosla awards recognise projects which have demonstrated a high level of commitment and service and encourage local governments to deliver methods of service which are planned, focused and efficient in order to meet the needs of the local people.

Over a short period of time, the Clean Renfrewshire campaign has gained a great deal of support from the public to raise awareness of everyone’s responsibility to maintain a clean and tidy environment.

Since the launch in May, more than 30 clean-ups have taken place, involving over 550 volunteers.

As well as launching a Clean Renfrewshire hotline number to take calls from members of the public, the campaign has also introduced a community caretaker service and an enforcement warden service, which will help to deliver the message that everyone must take an active role in keeping their community clean.

As well as improvements to the cleanliness of Renfrewshire, this recognition also demonstrates the hard work delivered by the Deliberate Fire Reduction Force team, who have reduced the number of deliberate fires by 29 per cent – saving £1.2million.

Council leader Derek Mackay said: “To reach the final stages of the Cosla Excellence Awards is a great achievement and testimony to the wonderful work which has been carried out to sustain the momentum of the Clean Renfrewshire campaign, which continues to go from strength to strength and make a significant impact on the area.

“I hope that this recognition will encourage more people to get involved to ensure that we maintain the success of the campaign and fulfil our goals of creating and a clean, bright and vibrant Renfrewshire which we can be proud of.”

Express reporters Cameron Hay and Lynn Jolly have done their bit to support the campaign by mucking in for two clean-ups.

Lynn teamed up a squad of little eco-warriors at Bushes Primary School in Paisley for a clean-up.

And Cameron’s stint was with high-ranking council bosses who left the comfort of their offices to join forces with Strathclyde Police and Strathclyde Fire and Rescue to stage a big clean-up in the Ferguslie Park area of Paisley.

Paisley Daily Express editor Anne Dalrymple said: “The people of Renfrewshire have really got behind this campaign – from tiny tots to mums and dads and even our more senior residents.

“It has been heartening to see so many people prepared to roll up their sleeves and make such a difference to their town, village, street, school or nursery.”