7 November 2006

More than 100 sacks full of rubbish were picked up on Saturday by teams of helpers in a successful multi-agency initiative to clear up some of the streets and green spaces in Chesham. 

The event was organised by the Chiltern Community Safety Partnership, which includes Chiltern District Council, Buckinghamshire County Council, Thames Valley Police and Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service. 

Representatives from these agencies, along with volunteers from the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, local residents, young offenders and probationers, joined forces to remove unsightly piles of rubbish and graffiti from a number of roads in the area. 

Leaflets had earlier been distributed with a telephone number that residents could call to request free collection of bulky items. At the end of the day a van collected 42 items of furniture, 26 kitchen appliances and more than 30 other miscellaneous items. 

Police and fire officers visited Waterside School, Little Springs School and Thomas Harding School in the week leading up to the event, and Home Fire Risk Checks were carried out at a number of homes in the area.

Councillors hosted a surgery at Chesham Fire Station in Bellingdon Road from 11am on the Saturday to answer questions from local residents.