Bins For Smokers

Photo courtesy of Middlewich Guardian

Approximately 5 tonnes of smoking-related litter: cigarette stubs, matchsticks and packets are discarded every day in the UK. Middlewich Clean Team has joined forces with Japan Tobacco International UK (JTI) a leading tobacco manufacturer, The Campaign to protect Rural England (CPRE) and Liz McGuinness of Middlewich Pubwatch in a bid to reduce cigarette litter in the town. As a result 34 cigarette stub bins have now been installed outside pubs and other businesses in Middlewich as part of a pilot study.

JTI has funded the wall-mounted bins which have been installed outside pubs following talks with Liz McGuiness, chair of the Pubwatch scheme. As part of Stop the Drop, the national anti-litter campaign. CPRE and JTI, who have centres in Cheshire, chose Middlewich to pilot the scheme.

Paul Williams, Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications at JTI UK, has said, “JTI and the Campaign to Protect Rural England understand the need to make it easier for existing adult smokers to dispose of their cigarette butts responsibly without impacting the surrounding environment. JTI is delighted to be working with our partners at CPRE to support the Middlewich Clean Team in its efforts to keep the beautiful town of Middlewich tidy!”

The success of the cigarette bins, which have been purchased from Bailey Streetscene, depends on smokers using them and official measurements will take place to track their use for 6 months after their placement. As Janet Chisholm, Middlewich Clean Team Chairperson has pointed out: “There’s no point putting stub out bins where there’s no footfall. We wanted the bins installed where people congregate which is why they are outside pubs. We believe it is vital that all members of our community are aware the impact litter has on our environment. Cigarette butts are dirty and have no place in our ethos - which is to live in a clean and litter free town. If we can encourage cigarette smokers to use the bins provided that would be a step in the right direction.”

Samantha Harding, Stop the Drop Campaign Manager at the Campaign to Protect Rural England has commented, “In the fight against litter, providing more bins and encouraging people to use them is one of the great solutions. With JTI’s direct support, the Middlewich Clean Team can continue its mission to keep the town clean. Now there’s no excuse for the people of Middlewich to be dropping their cigarette butts!”

Spring Clean On Wheelock Street

Could do with a clean up. Photo: Bernice Walmsley

On Saturday 3rd May, nine members of Middlewich Clean Team showed by their actions how in less than an hour they can make a difference when it comes to keeping our town clean and tidy.

An overgrown area at the side of former PACE Centre on Wheelock Street had become an eyesore right in the town centre that had been noticed by several members and they were determined to do something about it. So, armed with spades, rakes, loppers and brushes they worked hard and, as you can see from the before and after pictures, transformed the area.
 

Looks a lot better. Photo: Bernice Walmsley.

Middlewich Clean Team Chairperson, Janet Chisholm commented, “I just wanted to thank everyone who came along to help with the tidy up yesterday. The result is amazing. Nine of us tackled the untidy and unkempt area, including our Mayor, Bernice, who came in her official capacity. It was a wonderful sight seeing everyone lopping - cutting - sweeping and weeding with a common aim to make a difference in this area. It took us approximately forty minutes.” 

The team at work. Photo: Bernice Walmsley.

Our Mayor, Bernice Walmsley added, “The work done in less than an hour by the Clean Team has made a tremendous difference to this little area in the centre of our town. The hard-working members of the team were rewarded with a slice of Janet’s Lemon Drizzle cake.”

Volunteer's reward: Middlewich Clean Team Members enjoy Janet's lemon drizzle cake. Photo: Bernice Walmsley

Visits to Nurseries and a Care Home too

Photo:Middlewich Guardian

Middlewich Clean Team visited nurseries and a residential care home to share their work with younger and older generations. Chairperson of the Clean Team, Janet Chisholm and committee member, Hilary Jones, made their annual visits to the town’s nurseries in March.The team talked to the children at Playbox Community Centre, Peter Pan, Rainbow Day Nursery, Early Learners Nursery and Tommy Thumbs.about the importance of putting litter bins and the role of Middlewich Clean Team.

As always, they talked to the children about the importance of putting litter in the bin, they let them try out the child-size litter pickers and then everyone sung our song about litter. The children were very attentive, so we hope that when they get older and are out and about they will remember the things they learned. Hilary reported, “Janet and I were really pleased to see how interested the children were in keeping their surroundings clean and tidy. They really enjoyed the role-play and the song at the end left them with a cheerful reminder of the occasion.”
 

Photo:Middlewich Guardian

This year the Clean Team members also visited Newton Court Care Home to spread the message about the Clean Team’s activities to some of the older members of our community. Janet Chisholm, said it was a very humbling afternoon and added , “It was a pleasure to meet the staff along with some of the community of Newton Court who showed such interest in the work of the Middlewich Clean Team. Middlewich Clean Team is all inclusive and so there is no age barrier. From the youngest to the oldest members of our community they are all important and can become involved. It has been a particularly worthwhile and rewarding time for the MCT with two very special groups at each end of the spectrum showing interest and enthusiasm for our work.”

One or two residents of the home have already been seen out and about picking litter, which proves that everyone, young or old, can do their bit to keep our town clean and tidy.

Helping To Make A Good Image

Photo: Ian Jones

A colourful and clean view of the canal from Townbridge must be an image of Middlewich that we would like to portray. Unfortunately up until last week canal users and pedestrians could also see these images from Townbridge too:

Photo: Middlewich Guardian		Photo: Maxine Wrench
Nothing like an untidy mess giving Middlewich such a poor image to get the Clean Team going! There was a problem though; how to get to the patch of land which is between the canal and the River Croco? Middlewich Narrowboats to the rescue!		Photo: Middlewich Guardian
Photo: Middlewich Guardian		After checking health and safety procedures the Middlewich Clean Team volunteers gratefully accepted the offer of a lift to the scene from Middlewich Narrowboats. They easily disembarked and commenced work straight away. Photo: Middlewich Guardian

Twenty minutes later and it was a good job done with the view for canal users and pedestrians alike very much improved. Importantly the image of Middlewich as a clean and tidy place to be was improved too.

Photo: Ian Jones

Middlewich Clean Team Celebrates Donation From Galaxy Hot Chocolate Fund

Middlewich Clean Team Press Release - 11/12/13

Middlewich Clean Team is celebrating after receiving a £300 donation from the GALAXY Hot Chocolate Fund.

The volunteer group was set up more than ten years ago to help keep Middlewich clean and tidy. Today it has more than 200 members who not only litter pick but also take part in environmental projects such as bulb planting. Additionally, members of the group travel around the country to help other towns set up similar initiatives.

Stephen Dent, Vice Chairman says: “This donation from the GALAXY Hot Chocolate Fund couldn’t have come at a better time. With the mornings and evenings grow darker one of our biggest needs is to provide our volunteers with safety equipment.

“With this donation we can now afford to purchase high visibility coats to keep our members safe.”

GALAXY Hot Chocolate is looking to help small, local community groups and charities across the UK and Ireland by donating cash awards to support warm hearted people and projects.

Open for entries until February 23 2014, the Fund will distribute five £300 awards to deserving recipients every week.

Michelle Frost, spokeswoman for GALAXY Hot Chocolate said yesterday: “There are thousands of warm hearted people and organisations that go out of their way to help their local community day in day out. The GALAXY Hot Chocolate Fund aims to support their work and hopefully inspire more people to get involved with local community groups.”

Applications to the fund can be made on the GALAXY Hot Chocolate website www.galaxyhotchocolate.com.

GALAXY hot chocolate offers the smooth creamy taste of GALAXY chocolate in a heart-warming drink.

-ends-

Note to Editors: Photographs of this event are below:
   

Contact: Stephen Dent 01606 834575 or 07710 288824

Litter Pick Celebrating Galaxy Hot Chocolate £300 Donation

Photo: Middlewich Guardian

Our Galaxy Hot Chocolate litter pick celebrating the £300 donation from Galaxy towards the cost of new equipment. We all enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate and mince pies provided by Janet. Full details about the donation appear in our press release “MIDDLEWICH CLEAN TEAM CELEBRATES DONATION FROM THE GALAXY HOT CHOCOLATE FUND“

Autumn News Round-Up

Bulb Planting - Making Our Town A Nice Place To Be

In keeping with our motto "Love Your Town Keep It Tidy" the Middlewich Clean Team believes that a little effort makes a big difference. So we have got together with lots of others to makes an effort to make a big difference next spring when daffodil bulbs we have planted bloom. We had two teams at work, one in Croxton Lane the other in Booth Lane.

In Croxton Lane Steve Morris brought along an auger to prepare the planting holes then Brownies, Scout Cubs and MCT volunteers took no time at all to plant the bulbs despite a few light showers of rain. Of course our Mayor, Bernice Walmsley, attended and even had a try of the auger herself, which raised a few smiles and then together with her consort and husband Bill helped to distribute the bulbs to our eager helpers.

Meanwhile down Booth Lane, Maxine lead a team bulb planting by Peter's memorial plaque assisted by the MCC. Athough they didn't have the luxury of Steve's auger they still made short work work of the job knowing that in spring a floral memorial will bloom and also contribute to a welcoming sight for people entering Middlewich from the Sandbach direction.

If you would like to see the full set of photographs from the day, they are in our 2013 Photo Archive. This season's bulb planting sees all major routes into Middlewich prepared for a glowing welcome of yellow flowers next spring.

Photo: Fiona Bruce

Booth Lane Skate Park
Middlewich Clean Team were at the official opening of the Booth Lane Skate park in October. The ribbon cutting ceremony was led by the Town Mayor Bernice Walmsley and local MP Fiona Bruce. Fiona has kindly forwarded this photograph of Clean Team members at the occasion.

The Veolia Environmental Trust awarded Middlewich Vision a grant of £37,160 towards replacing the existing equipment on Booth Lane. The Veolia Environmental Trust award grants to community and environmental projects through the Landfill Communities Fund.
It is a fantastic facility for our young people, our task is to encourage everyone to use the bins! 

Photo: Bill Walmsley

Tesco Bag Pack
Middlewich Clean Team surprised shoppers at Tesco with the offer of bag packing on 21st September. Having the town Mayor, Bernice Walmsley, pack your shopping for you might indeed be something of a surprise, however Bernice is a very active member of the Middlewich Clean Team committee so naturally she joined in with everyone else. We raised almost £200 which contributed the purchasing of bulbs for the autumn bulb planting and hi-viz equipment.

Photo: Jannine Rogers

And Finally
News has just reached us of a role reversal where a dog, "Dotty", is picking up the mess left by humans, often picking up discarded bottles along the canal and taking them home. The dog's owner, Jannine Rogers, adapted a Middlewich Clean Team tabbard and commented, "I have since made alterations so it fits her - she makes a fabulous honorary member of the Clean Team, wish all dog owners made the effort in Middlewich". It would be nice if humans took a lead from this cannine example and stopped to paws for thought instead of making a mess in our town.

The Middlewich Clean Team is a voluntary group with a vision to develop and promote a culture of pride in the town and the community by working towards a litter free town and a pleasant environment for all to live in. We are a positive, forward thinking group who are prepared to work hard to achieve our aims.

As well as organising litter picks, we also encourage and support individuals to help us in whatever way they can, whether by picking litter in their immediate area, joining group litter picks or by highlighting problem areas.
Anyone can help us and if you would like to know more you can find out how to contact us here

Photos: Ian Philip Jones unless credited otherwise.