Businesses are being invited to take part in a Big Spring Clean to help tidy up Stoke-on-Trent.
The City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) stages a “Big Spring Clean in the City” drive this weekend.
Business people and volunteer residents will help clear litter and remove graffiti in the city centre in this first event of BID’s annual “Operation Sparkle.”
Following straight afterwards next week (April 15-21) is “Big Spring Clean in the Community,” a week of Stoke-on-Trent City Council-supported activities to clear streets, doorways and alleyways of litter in the wider Stoke conurbation.
A number of community activities are being organised and the council’s cleansing teams will be out and about in support.
Business people and residents are being urged to come up with their own initiatives to spring clean their own specific areas of the city.
Participants are being encouraged to post about their efforts on social media.
One suggestion for business employees is an after-work stroll taking in litter picking.
Last year creative several businesses including creative agency i-creation – who partner with Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce to produce Daily Focus – lent support to a similar council summer clean-up initiative.
Councillor Amjid Wazir, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability, said: “Over 20 businesses, community groups, and resident associations pledged their support to make the city a cleaner, greener place during the ‘#LoveSOT’ community clean-up fortnight last year, let’s beat this!
“I know from speaking with residents that they are all passionate about where they live, so let’s start with our own streets, our front doorsteps, or the alleyways that connect us to our neighbours. If you are able to pick up litter and help keep your local area clean, please do.”
The council’s Spring Clean initiative follows its successful IDIOT (Illegal Dumping in Our Town) campaign to crack down on the number of illegal dumping incidents in the city.
