Westminster bash for Mendips clean team

The team that helped Mendip clinch the Cleanest District in Britain title will attend a silver celebration at the House of Commons.

The trio from Mendip District Council have been invited by MP for Wigan Neil Turner, who chairs a government group for local environmental quality, to attend a 25 year celebration of the British Cleaning Council (BCC).

The council’s planning and environment business manager, Charles Uzzell, street and landscape service manager, Rob Thurston, and team leader for street scene services, Cathy Day, will attend the Westminster reception on Wednesday, May 2.

The team are among staff at the council and its partners who helped Mendip become the Cleanest District in Britain at the BCC’s annual awards last month. Mendip beat stiff opposition from five other finalists across the UK to scoop the district title.

Rob Thurston said: “We are really looking forward to attending this
reception, and being able to recognise, once again, all the hard work that the council and its partners have put in to making Mendip the cleanest.

“We will also be able to meet with other organisations from across the country, which share the same interest, to help us discuss plans and ideas to improve further in the future.”

A panel of cleaning experts, who visited Mendip several times, praised the district council for its partnership working on schemes to tackle environmental problems. This includes working with its contractors Connaught, Quadron and Interpublic, as well as other agencies such as the police, parish councils, the Environment Agency, schools and many others.

Among the projects which helped Mendip clinch the national title were a vehicle amnesty, bus shelter cleaning, chewing gum removal and Operation Relentless, which focussed on fly-tipping, abandoned vehicles and
graffiti.

Judith West, chairman of the British Cleaning Council, said: “The reception allows key cleaning and environment figures to mix with those in Westminster who have a genuine desire to help shape the future of
cleaning.

“It will also be an opportunity to celebrate the industry and thank those who have supported us over the years.”

Mendip District Council is now preparing to enter next year’s
competition in the hope of repeating its success, and there are new initiatives being planned to make the district even cleaner.

To find out more about the services provided by Mendip District Council telephone customer services on 01749 648999, e-mail:
customerservices@mendip.gov.uk, or visit www.mendip.gov.uk
.