Edenbridge residents urged to join community clean-up

EDENBRIDGE residents are being asked to join in a community clean-up to mark World Environment Day.

Rubbish which has escaped routine cleaning around town is the target of Edenbridge Litter-blitz in the week beginning June 1 as part of the Eden Valley Festival.

"Town council staff face an ongoing battle to keep our own sites litter-free," said Edenbridge Town Council's amenities committee chairman Richard Davison, "but the Litter-blitz is aimed at rubbish that has escaped routine street and site cleaning around the town."

The blitz is part of the national Big Tidy Up and several groups are already taking part at different times during the week.

There is a certificate for each participant, and to help cut carrier-bag waste the town council has some re-useable eco-friendly bags for those who take part.

West Kent Housing is urging residents on the Stangrove and Spitals Cross estates to do their bit on May 26. Community warden Alex Stephen is helping arrange for removal of collected rubbish.

Other activities during the week focusing on environmental issues range from Brownies designing posters to Eden Valley Artists exhibiting work on a recycling theme.

Town council deputy clerk Kathy Staff said: "Growing concerns about the environment prompted Edenbridge Town Council to arrange events to mark World Environment Day in June for the first time in 2004. Councillors decided to organise some community events. The hope was as many groups as possible would get involved."