10 March 2006
Teams from Greenwich Council and the Police were out in force this week to support a London-wide clean-up campaign.
An estate in Woolwich was cleared of abandoned and unlicensed cars, while several adults and children in Abbey Wood received warnings for dropping litter.
London Clean Up was launched in central London on Tuesday 7 March by Home Office Minister Hazel Blears to draw attention to the work that is done year-round to make the capital’s streets safer and cleaner. To mark the launch, teams in Greenwich were out and about all week tackling flytips, removing abandoned cars, sprucing up shopping parades and issuing warnings to litter-offenders.
The week-long programme of local action included a clean-up in the Eynsham Drive area of Abbey Wood, where Council Cleansweep teams were out and about clearing away litter and graffiti, installing additional litter bins and planting new flower beds. Police and Council enforcement teams were also in action in the same area, talking to children during lunchtimes and after school about litter. Several people received warnings after they were seen dropping litter.
Several estates in Woolwich featured in the clean-up operation, with the Council and the Police teaming up to clear bulky rubbish and abandoned cars from underground garages on the Connaught and Woolwich Common estates. Police stepped up their support to parking wardens in a bid to deter thoughtless and dangerous parking near to pedestrian crossings, and increased their visible presence around transport interchanges in the town centre as part of a crackdown on transport-based crime and anti-social behaviour.
During the operation, 19 cars were removed from the Woolwich Common estate, including four from underground car parks. Of these, 17 were removed and scrapped, while two were impounded. Several other vehicles had notices placed on them warning the owners that they will be removed if not claimed.
Elsewhere in the borough, town centres and shopping parades were being targeted by clean-up teams equipped with high-pressure hoses to remove graffiti and other defacements. Pavements in Eltham town centre have been subjected to a special programme of chewing gum removal.
Cllr Alex Grant, Greenwich Council Cabinet member for environment and public services, said, 'All the evidence shows that a clean environment free from litter and graffiti is part of what makes people feel safer in their own neighbourhood. This week’s Clean-Up was a useful way of highlighting the work that is done by Council staff year-round to keep the environment clean and tidy.'
Cllr Rajwant Sidhu, Cabinet member for public safety and enforcement, added, 'People who drop litter or who scrawl graffiti on walls and bus shelters are the ones who make an area feel unsafe. It was therefore important that this week’s clean-up campaign included educating young people about the impact of such crimes. We were also keen to press home the message - to adults and children alike - that the Council and the police are prepared to take action against those who commit crimes against the environment.'
Chief Supt Peter Lowton, Borough Commander for Greenwich Police, said, 'We all want Greenwich to be a safer and cleaner place for those who live, visit or work in the borough. Joint operations like this are very popular among residents and commuters, and are a valuable way for the Police and the Council to respond to the concerns of local people.'
Tim Godwin, Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Territorial Policing said, 'The Met is actively supporting the London Clean Up. With our help Londoners are fighting back against anti-social behaviour and claiming back their communities. Our Safer Neighbourhood teams across London are taking part in a variety of different initiatives to reduce anti-social behaviour and make our communities a more attractive place to live.
'The activities being undertaken this week are just typical of the work we do throughout the year to improve our communities.'
Greenwich residents who want to report flytipping, graffiti or other environmental crime can contact the Council’s Cleansweep service on 020 8921 4661.
ENDS
Media information:
Greenwich Council press office: Andrew Stern 020 8921 5043
Metropolitan Area Police press office: Sarah Goodall 020 8284 5136
Notes to editors
1 Photos available – contact the press office
2 For media information about London Clean Up, contact Hasina Momtaz on 020 7983 4064 or Anna Macmillan on 020 7983 4754.