Article published in the Wellington News
Six days of activities are underway, planned as part of a multi-agency campaign to spruce-up Wellington, address safety concerns and improve the quality life for residents and visitors. Telford & Wrekin Council is joining forces with other partners as part of Operation Clean Sweep which started yesterday, Sunday, September 20. The aim of the scheme, which has already taken place in various locations across the borough, is to help clean up the area and reduce crime.
Partners involved include Telford and Wrekin Safer, Stronger Communities Partnership, West Mercia Police, Shropshire Fire Service, Telford & Wrekin Council and many more.
Officers will be taking part in clean-up exercises such as street sweeping, fly tipping removal and enforcements and educational visits to schools to discuss recycling and litter and removal of graffiti.
Activities will also include cleaning road gulleys, looking at street and road signing, footpaths and road markings.
Shropshire Fire Service will be bringing their fire and safety road show to the schools and where possible will be installing fire alarms and carrying out home safety visits.
The police will be out in force and operating an Automatic Number Plate Recognition vehicle, addressing anti-social behaviour and holding joint activities with schools and the community such as bike ability and addressing illegal parking.
The week of activities will also culminate in a night-time safety initiative on Friday night (SEP 25) where the police will work with partners to address problems and concerns around the town’s nightlife.
A multi-agency road show featuring representatives and information from the partners will be in Wellington Square on Tuesday from 9.30am to 3pm. This is an opportunity for people to talk to the agencies directly to discuss their views and concerns and influence the way the initiative develops.
Councillor Sean Kelly, cabinet member for Policy, Performance and Partnership, said: "This is a unique operation involving a number of partner organisations aimed at giving the centre of Wellington - which is a key borough town - a facelift and to make the area a safer and even more pleasant place to live."
Inspector Richard Langton, of the Wellington Local Policing Team, said: "Clean Sweep is a fantastic opportunity for all the agencies with responsibility for supporting the people of Wellington to make a real difference to some of the issues which can impact on quality of life."
"A host of activities have been packed into the week and range from targeting anti-social behaviour to filling in pot holes and removing graffiti."
