RESIDENTS are being encouraged to take pride in their area and get involved in the latest community-clean up in the borough.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council started the latest two week community clean-up in the Popley Poets area on January 20 and will tackle issues previously highlighted by the council’s community services operations team and feedback from local residents.

Work during the two week clean-up will include:

• A mechanical sweep of all roads along with a sweep from operative teams for less accessible areas

• Cleaning and re-painting of Chineham play park

• Hedge cutting

• Shrub bed maintenance

In addition to support from the council’s operations team and Sentinel Housing Association, the waste and recycling team is also supporting the event by providing additional glass recycling boxes, recycling bags and more information on how to recycle as much as possible to the community.

Cabinet member for environment and climate change, Councillor Robert Donnell said: “Alongside our normal grounds maintenance and cleansing operations we have involved local people and partners in enhanced tidy ups where they are most needed in the borough.

“By helping the community led clean-ups we are able to really support the excellent work done by the community in the area and encourage residents to take a real pride in where they live.”

Sentinel Housing Association’s neighbourhood manager for the area, Alison Bone added: “We’re really pleased to be supporting Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council with their community clean-up of the Poets area of Popley.

“We’ll be helping out by litter picking and generally tidying up the area. Members of our HomeTeam will be on hand to carry out repairs and maintenance, along with caretakers.”

For more information on the clean-ups planned in the borough or to get involved in Popley, contact the council on 01256 844844 or go along to the Spotlight Centre in Shakespeare Road, between 9am and 12pm or 2pm and 4pm to speak to the team.