Hundreds join OxClean spring clean

9:57am Monday 17th March 2008

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HUNDREDS of people in small groups all across Oxford gave the city a spring clean over the weekend - and filled scores of bags with rubbish.

The OxClean drive by Oxford Civic Society, supported by The Oxford Times, saw young and old getting together to clear the city's litter hot spots.

And children played a major part in the effort.

Green city councillor Elise Benjamin was among a small throng who helped clear up the Manzil Way play area off Cowley Road.

She said: "The best thing about it was the number of children who got involved.

"They were amazed at the amount of litter that was strewn around.

"I'm sure they got the message that being a litter lout is anti-social."

At Summertown car park, there was a revival of the Wombles - the children's television series that saw furry creatures clearing up litter on Wimbledon Common.

Together with the Rev Willy Pryor and his wife Elizabeth, a group of boys from Summer Fields School cleared up Summertown car park.

Mr Pryor was the leader and, naturally, dressed up as Great Uncle Bulgaria for the session.

Bishop Jeremy Dick led the congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints in cleaning up an area adjoining Redbridge park and ride off Abingdon Road.

He said: "There were 55 of us and we filled 135 black bags full of rubbish as well as picking up dumped television sets, car batteries and other less savoury things.

"It was a very successful operation and at the end, when we had all cleaned up, we enjoyed a mass barbecue, which was great fun.

"In all, it was a very worthwhile venture."

Members of the Rotary Club of Oxford North tackled the hedgerows along a stretch of the northern bypass from Marston flyover to Banbury Road roundabout.

They filled 14 sacks and collected a lot of broken glass.

And while the roads and hedgerows were becoming visibly less cluttered, the river was not neglected.

Members of the Falcon Rowing Club were in action clearing up around their boathouse in Meadow Lane and on the river between Iffley and Folly Bridge.

One of the organisers, Laura Giles, said: "We did as much as we could from the three boats which took part in the clean-up, collecting bits in the river and along the banks as far as we could reach.

"There were lots of litter, plastic bags, vodka bottles and other drinks bottles.

"We were also helped by a group of disabled canoeists and were very pleased with our efforts."

Organisers hope the litter pick and clean-up can become an annual event with more members of the public taking part next year.

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