Tenants and residents chip in to recycle rubbish

This winter, Six Town Housing held a “Chip ‘n’ Skip” initiative, where they placed large skips around neighbourhoods in Radcliffe, Bury and brought a tree chipper to give tenants the opportunity to clear in and around their property.

They could recycle cardboard and cards and even Christmas trees using the chipper, as well as use the skip for bulky items. The community came out in their numbers to help each other throw out items and on one estate, around 50 people used the skips.

Tenants using the skips were also surveyed to ask questions about the event and for their suggestions about how their neighbourhoods could be improved. Suggestions ranged from educating tenants around recycling, to skips being provided more often to help prevent fly tipping.

Dorothy Wood, Six Town Housing tenant in Radcliffe, said: "Lots of people have come out and helped to tidy up the estate. It’s good to see and bringing the skips around at this time of year really helps and I hope it happens every year!”

The event came about following discussions at the Radcliffe “Neighbourhood Matters” meetings where tenants and residents work together with Six Town Housing staff to raise issues of concern in Radcliffe neighbourhoods. They also plan schemes, projects and make recommendations to improve local services and Radcliffe neighbourhoods. One priority for tenants and Six Town Housing is to make neighbourhoods look and feel better, which is how days such as the “Chip n Skip” event are created.

If you would like to speak to Six Town Housing and share you suggestions about how to improve your neighbourhood, the next Neighbourhood Matter meeting is on Wednesday 6th February, 1pm to 3pm at the Groundwork office, Radcliffe. For more information on Neighbourhood Matter meetings call 0161 686 8018 or see www.sixtownhousing.org

ENDS

Picture: Chipping and skipping are John Byrne, Six Town Housing community development worker, and Michael Peake, neighbourhood caretaker.