Calderdale gets ready for the Big Clean

The third annual, Big Clean week will start on Monday 18 May, when Council teams will take to areas in and around Halifax and the Lower and Upper Valley, aiming to blitz those spots identified in need of a clean sweep.

Council staff will target sites that are owned and managed by Calderdale Council, ensuring the borough looks its best. If it is privately owned land, then Environmental Health teams will take steps to encourage the land owner to clean up or face the possibility of enforcement action.

Community groups and volunteers are welcome to help out with the clean up. Equipment and bags will be provided, and the Council will help with the removal of anything collected at the end of the day.

Volunteers will need to dress for the occasion. Strong, comfortable boots or shoes will be needed; perhaps also warm, waterproof clothing and headgear. Gloves are essential if litter picking by hand.

Each Big Clean will be approximately 3 hours long, and will take place as follows:

Lower Valley

Monday 18 May – Brighouse area, concentrating on the Armytage Road Industrial Estate, meeting at Junction of Priory Road and Armytage Road at 10am

Tuesday 19 May –Litter clearance at North Dean Woods, meeting at St Stephen’s Church car park, Copley at 10am, working the Friends of Clay House Park

Thursday 21 May - Rastrick area, covering Thornton Road and including the play area site at Oaklands. Meeting Point adjacent to Highfield Road shops at 10am

Halifax North & East

Monday 18 May – Shelf area, meeting at Shelf Hall Park at 10am, working at litter picking all of the Carr House Road site from the Bradford boundary

Wednesday 20 May - Mixenden area, meeting at Dodgeholme Drive at 10am.

Wednesday 27 May - Pellon area, meeting on Queensway at 10am. Working from Queensway to ASDA

Skips are being provided in the Mixenden and Pellon clean ups, with support from the Ovenden and Mixenden Initiative and Pennine Housing

Halifax Central

Monday 18 May –Litter clearance at Dixon Scar, Sowerby Bridge. Meeting at the layby on Hollins Mill Lane just past the Puzzle Hall Inn at 10am

Tuesday 19 May - King Cross area, meeting point at King Cross Library at 9.30am and Sowerby Bridge area, meeting at Sowerby Bridge Railway Station at 1pm

Wednesday 20 May – Boothtown area, meeting point at Grantham Road Recreation Ground at 9.30am

Thursday 21 May - Litter clearance at Scar Wood/Albert promenade. Meeting at the bollards on Albert Promenade at 10am

Upper Valley

Tuesday 19 May – Luddendenfoot area, meeting at Holmes Park, Station Road at 10am. Hebden Bridge Area, meeting at Calder Holmes Park cafe at 10am.

Thursday 21 May – A large sweeper will be working along Lennox Road through to Cornholme Junior and Infant school. It would be a great help if residents could leave the road clear for the sweeper to be able to clean as effectively as possible.

There is also to be a community clean up day at Harley Bank Community Garden on Saturday 16 May where the Upper Valley Neighbourhood Team are teaming up with residents, Pennine Housing and Incredible Edible Todmorden to clean up the community garden and surrounding area, this will include street cooking and community consultation activity to support the Harley Bank Residents Association.

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Marcus Thompson, said: “After the winter months, some areas can look a bit tired, so these clean up days are a great way to make a difference in your local area.

“Council teams will be out and about all week to make sure areas of Calderdale get a good spring clean, but volunteers are most welcome to help us get the job done more quickly.”