PICTURE GALLERY: Community cleans-up Maltby

The initiative took place in Maltby on March 20 – the day before the traditional first day of spring – with 200 people volunteering to help.

Maltby Town Council chairman Jon Carratt said the council held the initiative after listening to feedback from the public, and this was the first time a clean-up had gained so much public involvement.

The chairman added: “We had money left in the funding, around £9,000, to do it — so we did it.”

Councillors, volunteers from China Town TARA (Tenants and Residents’ Association), members of Model Village Community Association, South Yorkshire Housing representatives and residents all helped to fill the skips sited around the town.

Maltby Childminding Group also got on board and cleaned up Coronation Park.

Six of the schools – Maltby Academy, Lilly Hall, Hilltop Special School, Redwood, Maltby Manor, Maltby Crags – also joined in, with children and staff litter picking around their site.

Town council clerk Kate Butler, said: “Two teams from the probation service were employed to help carry bulky items to the skips and then litter picked other areas of Maltby.

“Streetpride put on additional cleaning services too and a local gardener was employed prior to the clean-up, on the day, and is still being employed by the town council to help remove weeds/leaves and soil on the pavements and tidy areas within Maltby.

“We have had a fabulous response to the work he has undertaken to date.

“Over 90 children, teachers and governors came out from Lilly Hall School and over 20 from Hilltop Special School.”  

Mr Carratt said one problem area, the Cinder Path near the old police station was blitzed, and residents were able to use the skips to get rid of large waste, which helped to combat fly-tipping.

He added: “It was a fantastic day, community and councillors came together and it was brilliant.”