Ryedale | Archive | 2003 | August | 06
From the Gazette & Herald, first published Wednesday 6th Aug 2003.
FOOTPATHS and eyesore corners in Norton and Malton got a clean up on Sunday when frustrated councillor David Lloyd-Williams decided to take his own action.
"My concern is that visitors to the towns are being given an impression that the community cares too little for its appearance and that during this busy holiday period we want to look our best," he said.
Vegetation and weeds growing in wall sides and unswept streets are tarnishing the image to both residents and visitors says Councillor Lloyd-Williams a member of both Norton and Malton town councils and a member of North Yorkshire County Council.
Armed with brushes, shovels, a hoe and a trailer for four large rubbish containers, Coun Lloyd-Williams and his wife Angela set an example by cleaning up rubbish and sweeping the unkempt footpaths.
And a bonus of the initiative is that the Malton and Norton Civic Society, which has been moribund for some years, is set to be revived. "We want to generate more civic pride in our towns," he said.
Traders and householders are being urged to clean the footpaths outside their businesses and homes to smarten up the town centres.
"Civic pride seems to be missing from our community but I believe that if each resident swept the area in front of their property in including removing weeds and other plants the overall result would be one of care and pride we could give Malton and Norton a much enhanced new look."
He added: "At present, there appears to be no one taking responsibility as to who has a final say in street cleaning and who should be removing the weeds and other accumulated detritus gathering alongside the footpaths."
But there is also another problem leading from the lack of clean-up action says Coun Lloyd-Williams because drains become blocked with rubish and silt in heavy rain, causing potential flooding on roads.
Coun Lloyd-Williams is also declaring war on fly-posting and daubing of street signs. He has asked Ryedale District Council officers to investigate the problem and to have improvements made.
Updated: 11:01 Wednesday, August 06, 2003
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