NEAT Team cleans up in Clydach

Swansea Council's Neat Team has swept through Clydach cleaning anything in its path, thanks to a new partnership with the local community council.

The newly formed partnership between the Council and Clydach Community Council has meant the litter busting team can go into areas not normally dealt with by environmental cleansing services.

And residents and members of the community council couldn't be happier with the results of the clean up.

So far, the team has carried out extensive litter picking, grass cutting and weeding and even helped to clear dangerous discarded needles off the streets.

Swansea Council launched the Neighbourhood Environment Action Team (NEAT) initiative in 2007 and has provided meaningful work for adults with learning difficulties.

John Hague, Cabinet Member for the Environment in Swansea Council, said, "The NEAT Team initiative is a great way of bringing together different services in the Council, with a view to improving local communities. Long may it continue."

Brian Barfoot, Chairman of Clydach Community Council met with NEAT Team members, Gareth Cotton and Paul Jones, to congratulate them and say well done. He said, "They're doing a fantastic job. They work hard and are a huge asset to Clydach."

Gareth Cotton, said, "I really enjoy doing the work and helping the community."

Nigel Fitzgerald from Swansea Council said the partnership with Clydach Community Council was helping to guide the team to areas that were seen as local hot spots for litter. He said, "We have a regular work programme for Clydach which we carry out on a daily basis. The partnership means that requests can be put in to us for specific sites to be cleared."