The story so far...

One year on from launch of Carlisle clean campaign

A year on from the launch of a Carlisle City Council campaign to make Carlisle... cleaner than ever, reports indicate that residents and businesses are continuing to back their enviro-crime initiative.

Since August last year, the public awareness campaign to make the city cleaner, greener and safer has been up and running throughout the city.

The City Council urged local people to work alongside them to tackle enviro-crimes like graffiti, littering, dog fouling, fly-tipping and fly-posting.

Bus advertising, lamp post banners, posters, flyers and other promotional material were placed around the city to make residents aware of the new powers under the Clean Neighbourhoods & Environment Act. Five key areas: graffiti, littering, dog fouling, fly-tipping and fly-posting were highlighted on the promotional material and were illustrated using five slogans graffiti is a goner, littering is illegal, fouling is forbidden, fly-tipping is terminated and fly-posting is finished.

The campaign highlighted that fines could be issued to those who commit this form of anti-social behaviour and 'gifts' which aim help residents abide by the law have been handed out free of charge. Over the last year:

Around 2,000 free pocket ashtrays have been handed out to local residents in an effort to reduce the littering of cigarette stubs. Due to the demand even more have been ordered;

Around 150,000 free bio-bags for dog fouling have been picked up by dog owners visiting local community buildings such as the Civic Centre and local community centres. A further 50,000 have been ordered to meet the demand;

More 1,000 'Rewards' tokens have been handed out to local youngsters who are seen keeping the city clean. Young people who take part in litter picks or are witnessed by the City Council putting their rubbish in bins are given the tokens; and

Only seven litter fines and 22 fines for fly posting have been issued since the enforcement of the campaign last autumn. A further 45 warning letters have also been issued to drivers seen throwing litter out of their cars.

A series of litter picks are also being arranged throughout the city.

Around 15 young people and Carlisle City Council Clean Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers will be helping to clear away debris from areas around the Play Raffles community building on 226-228 Raffles Avenue next Wednesday (22 August) between 10am and 12noon. Local residents are also invited to a 'lend a hand' too.

City Councillor Ray Bloxham, Portfolio holder for Environment and Infrastructure said:

We've been really impressed with local residents response to the campaign. Since the campaign started last year we've noticed that city streets are cleaner and we now have to empty the city centre bins on a more frequent basis. We invested time and effort getting the message across that littering and other enviro-crimes will not be tolerated and this now seems to be coming to fruition.

We've found that we've only had to issue a small number of fines, as we've taken the education before enforcement approach. When its explained that fines can be issued, people think twice about dropping litter.

As part of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act, enforcement officers can issue a minimum £50 fine to people who drop litter, fly-tip, spray graffiti, fly-post, distribute flyers or leaflets, or fail to clean up their dog's mess.

In addition to the promotional material, officers from the City Council visited schools, community events and Neighbourhood Forums to spread the word. Cards spelling out the message have also been passed to city centre shoppers. More school visits are planned this autumn.