Elderpark Street Cleanup!

2007-09-03

Govan youngsters gather together to encourage their community to clean up Elderpark Street

Residents from Elderpark have made sure that their community will not be turned into a dumping ground for litter louts and irresponsible dog owners. In support of Glasgow City Council’s £4 million Clean Glasgow campaign, more than 50 residents from Elderpark rolled up their sleeves to tackle ‘grime crime’ in their community on Saturday 1st September 2007. Clean Glasgow aims to instil pride in city residents and punish people who break the law by littering, fly tipping, spraying graffiti and allowing their dogs to foul streets and parks - anti-social acts that cost Glasgow City Council a staggering £17m in unnecessary spending every year to clean up. The local youth centre was a key target for graffiti artists and after an initial clean up local youngsters wanted to make sure the youth centre stayed that way, targeting wider issues including littering and dog fouling. Fifteen young people between the ages of 12 and 16 drew up an action plan to tackle these issues and were given £250 from Clean Glasgow to help them continue with their efforts. They have also received help from CSpace, a project led by Glasgow South West Regeneration Agency (GSWRA), which works in partnership with Strathclyde Police, Elderpark Housing Association, and Glasgow City Council. The project engages with all sections of the community and facilitates environmental regeneration within South West Glasgow. After several workshops with teenagers from Elderpark it was agreed that the local area would benefit from a major clean up, involving the whole community as well as the large number of Polish and French residents within Elderpark. Armed with litter pickers and black bags, which were provided by the City Councils Clean Glasgow team, the youngsters and community transformed Elderpark Street. Katie Kelly, CSpace Environmental Education Officer, Glasgow South West Education Regeneration Agency said: “I am delighted with the enthusiasm, dedication and effort which the youngsters have shown in coordinating their action plan. It is really important that children are actively involved from the beginning and I hope their efforts will raise the awareness of other youngsters and the wider community. “Glasgow’s City Council’s Clean Campaign has significantly encouraged the local community within Govan to take pride in their area and has provided them with a sense of responsibility and citizenship. Their continued efforts to clean up the area shows their determination and I hope that this will continue to go from strength to strength,” Glasgow City Council leader Steven Purcell said: “The success of Clean Glasgow to date has been significant. The people of Glasgow have shown a great deal of enthusiasm and commitment toward the campaign, which has inspired many to adopt a greater sense of pride in our city. “Therefore, we must build on the progress made in the first six months of the campaign by continuing to enforce the message that litter louts, fly-tippers and irresponsible dog owners will be caught and fined. “It is my aim to ensure that Glasgow’s global reputation is one of a clean and vibrant city and the foundation for that is making it clear to all that selfish acts of anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.”

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