Residents celebrate canal clear up

4:55pm Tuesday 19th February 2008

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Furious residents who complained about the state of a nearby canal bank were celebrating today after a clean up team moved in.

Chorley Council and British Waterways have joined forces to kick off a spring clean of the pathway close to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, in Whittle-le-Woods, after local people complained it was being used as an unofficial dumping ground'.

The land, owned and maintained by British Waterways, had been strewn with debris after litterlouts and fly-tippers dumped bags of rubbish at the site.

Now the council has helped clear up some of the area while British Waterways sent out teams to ensure their land was cleared too.

Councillor Peter Goldsworthy, leader of Chorley Council, said: "This area was a disgrace. It's mainly private land owned by British Waterways, but it was a mess and it was distressing for local residents.

"We sent a clean up team out there immediately to get to grips with some of the problems and British Waterways have done their bit too.

"I'd like to thank the residents for doing something about this.

"If we don't know about things we can't do anything about them - and Chorley is a big area for us to monitor ourselves.

"I was also impressed that the local community recognised this fly-tipping as anti-social and unacceptable behaviour in their neighbourhood.

"They are right when they say it is lazy and ignorant people who carry out this type of environmental crime - and we're committed to doing something about it with the help of local people."

The Council has recently launched a new civic pride' campaign called Chorley Smile, which includes a number of promises from the authority and a number of promises local people can sign up to do to help improve their own environment.

Coun Goldsworthy added: "Chorley Smile is about the Council doing its bit - but we can't do it on our own.

"We need local residents and other organisations to do their bit too.

"If people promise not to throw litter and clean up after their dog - just little things like that - Chorley will be a much cleaner place."

To sign up to Chorley Smile pick up a pledge card from any of the Council's offices or log onto to the website via the link below.