Tuesday, 15 June 2021 10:57

Some of the volunteers who took part in the sessions around Ashton Hurst.

Tameside's newest Conservative councillor has been straight out of the blocks delivering on his promise to clean up his ward.

Councillor Dan Costello, Conservative councillor for Ashton Hurst, set up a series of litter picks - which formed part of Keep Britain Tidy's Great British Spring Clean.

Indeed, a number of litter picks have also taken place in other towns across the borough as part of the national campaign.

Councillor Costello's initiative included four sessions over three weeks in different litter hotspots within the Ashton Hurst ward: Lees Rd/Broadoak Clough, Hurst Cross, Hazelhurst and Hartshead Estate/St Albans shops/Ashton Under Lyne Rugby Club.

There was a fantastic response from the local community - with 42 volunteers collecting 72 bags of litter during 84 hours of volunteering in total.

Councillor Dan Costello with some of the rubbish collected during the litter picks

Speaking after the successful venture, Councillor Costello said: “During the election campaign, our local manifesto made clear our commitment to ensuring a clean and tidy borough. I also made that personal commitment within the Ashton Hurst ward. It’s vital that elected representatives follow up on the promises they make so I am delighted to have been able to organise these sessions so soon after being elected, and will continue to organise further sessions in the future.

"I am also aware of other successful initiatives elsewhere in Tameside, particularly a number in Hyde Werneth organised by my Conservative colleagues Councillor Ruth Welsh and Councillor Phil Chadwick. I’m delighted by the way the Hurst community came together to get involved and help me to keep Hurst a cleaner and tidier place.

"We’ve had volunteers of all ages, all backgrounds and from all over the ward. I want to give a special mention to my constituents Jessica and Ella & Mia - three very enthusiastic youngsters (pictured below) who took part in the litter picks, and have also organised their own litter picks with their families.

"It’s brilliant to see such passion in the future generations of Hurst. We’ve clocked up 84 hours of volunteering and cleared away 72 bags of rubbish - a brilliant achievement! I’m very proud to represent, and to be a part of, this community."