Woodlands Park gets the spring cleaning bug

A community clean-up in Woodlands Park next week will enjoy a "high" profile - with a helping hand from the High Sheriff of Berkshire.

Dr Christina Hill Williams will join Royal Borough community wardens, borough streetcare officers, police officers, police community support officers and staff from Maidenhead and District Housing Association, Toynbee Housing and Working 4 Woodlands Park to remove graffiti and bag up litter on Wednesday 31 March from 11am. Dr Williams will award the organisers with a High Sheriff's certificate at the end of the clean-up.

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue will be offering fire safety advice to residents and Maidenhead and District Housing Association will provide their mobile office and encourage residents to take part and to get advice. Children from Woodlands Park school will be joining in to make sure their local area is clean for the Easter holidays.

An Easter egg hunt has been arranged for children and the Mayor, Cllr Jesse Grey will award the prizes.

Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for community safety, said: "This should a tremendous day and I am delighted that the borough is able to be part of the High Sheriff's Berkshire Spring Clean. Residents are essential to the event's success - so I would urge them to come along and make it a real success.

"We all have a responsibility for our local environment and every day when we are out and about we can do our bit by putting our litter in the bin or taking it home. If we drive away litter and graffiti we drive away crime and disorder. A clean place is a safer place.

"We want to make sure that we support our residents who suffer from anti-social behaviour and ensure that graffiti and litter are tackled promptly. The council takes a zero tolerance attitude to such activity and the community wardens and police work together to deal effectively with these issues. We will not allow the actions of a small minority to ruin the lives of the majority of law-abiding residents. We will work with the police to reduce anti-social behaviour in Woodlands Park.

"I would like to thank community warden Trish Canziani for organising the day."