Dedworth Green First School adopts its street

Dedworth Green First School has become one of the first schools in the borough to Adopt a Street as part of the council's scheme started earlier this year.

Yesterday (Tuesday 4 May), the Mayor Cllr Jesse Grey, officially launched their scheme to adopt Smiths Lane in Windsor.

Adopt a Street encourages residents to volunteer to care for their communities and local environment by collecting litter from their local streets and areas. This is an additional service to complement and enhance the council's regular street cleaning schedule. Dedworth Green joins St Edward's Royal Free Ecumenical Middle School which has already signed up to the scheme.

Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for highways and streetcare, said: "I am delighted that Dedworth Green First School has taken the initiative to be part of Adopt a Street which will instil in the pupils a real sense of pride in their local area.

"It is crucial we work with children to educate them and help make them responsible citizens who really care about their local area and ensure it remains pleasant and free of litter and graffiti for everyone to enjoy, now and in the future. This project is an excellent way to show how the council could better spend money on other work to make the borough better for everyone rather than on mindless criminal damage and litter."

Cllr Christine Bateson, lead member for community partnerships, said: "Adopt a Street is a perfect way of reinforcing the council's new zero tolerance policy on litter - as well as helping to instil a real sense of civic pride and community among volunteers in their own neighbourhoods.

"I am thrilled another school has come on board. I am sure the children will help make a real difference to the local area and at the same time take a real pride in their community and show that Adopt a Street really works."

To mark Dedworth Green's inclusion in the scheme, Royal Borough community wardens, together with the borough's streetcare team, have given the school a 'report graffiti and litter' box where the children can say where there is graffiti or litter in their area. Community warden Michelle Simmonds has talked to the pupils about the project and will be going back on a regular basis to pick up the reports and give these to streetcare for action. The community wardens will also work closely with the school to update them on progress.

At the end of the year, streetcare will report the costs of the work they have carried out to the school council so the children will know the cost of clearing litter and removing graffiti.

Cllr Rayner added: "The community wardens are very much in the heart of their local community and the recent increase in their responsibilities including issuing fixed penalty notices and further enhanced working with Thames Valley Police means we are providing further support to the community and continuing to make the borough cleaner, greener and safer for all."