Saturday morning saw seven members of the Marlborough Youth Council set about sprucing up the centre of Marlborough and finishing at the Youth Centre on the Rec.
Ably assisted by the Mayor, Councillor Margaret Rose and Councillor Lisa Farrell, the team, all kitted out in High Viz jackets and gloves and armed with pick-up sticks and bin bags targeted first the High Street area, picking up loads of cigarette butts and assorted rubbish of every type that had been discarded by those who were obviously unable to find one of the many rubbish bins with integral ashtrays that are sited on both sides of the High Street.
It was an initiative that came out of a recent Youth Council meeting, where members were so struck by the amount of general litter and particularly cigarette butts that adorned the centre of Marlborough that they decided to do something about it. The best way was to join the ‘Clean for the Queen’, a national campaign encouraging people to take pride in their areas and get rid of as much litter and rubbish as possible so that the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations can take place in clean and tidy places.
There was lots of support for the clean team, many passers by and drivers stopped to say ‘well done’ and giving plenty of ‘thumbs up’ signs in encouragement and recognition.
“A job well done”, decreed Mayor Margaret Rose as she and the rest of the team arrived back at the Town Council offices for some well earned refreshment. “Thanks to all the young people who gave up their Saturday to make Marlborough a cleaner place” she added, “and particularly to Councillor Farrell and the Marlborough Youth Council for putting such a worthwhile cause to the benefit of all in Marlborough”.
The Marlborough Youth Council weren’t the only local organisation doing their bit to make Marlborough a cleaner and tidier place under the ‘Clean for the Queen’ banner. ARK – Action for the River Kennet – managed to clear forty bin liners full of litter from the Bay Bridges lay-by and the River Og to the North of Marlborough.
The tributary of the Kennet and the shrubs and bushes growing next to the lay-by are a haven for wildlife but are treated as a dump by users of the lay-by and passing vehicles on the A346.
“The volunteers put in many hours today and much of what was cleared was not pleasant. There are bins at this site, so hopefully now the area is clear of rubbish people might value it more and enjoy the lovely views up and downstream of the River Og.”, said ARK Project Officer Anna Forbes.”
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