Neighbourhood officers and schools help keep Wales tidy

Police Community Support Officers across the Caerphilly County Borough have been teaming up with local children to help clean up the community as part of Keep Wales Tidy week.

During the week (Monday 21st September to Sunday 27th September) they helped to collect 72 bags of rubbish from the area.

PCSOs from the Ystrad Mynach Neighbourhood Policing Team organised four litter picks during the week.

Year six pupils from Ystrad Mynach Primary school helped to collect 25 bags of rubbish from Nelson Road, Church View Estate playing fields and Ystrad Mynach Park. During their clean-up they recovered a bicycle, petrol can and water boiler.

In Nelson, year four pupils from Llancaiach Primary school collected six bags of rubbish from Wern Park, with another two bags sent for recycling.

Pupils from Maesycwmmer Primary School helped to clean-up ten bags of litter from Maesycwmmer Park and Woodland Walk.

Teenagers from 'The Friday Night Project' youth club in Hengoed also got into the spirit of Keep Wales Tidy Week, collecting eight bags from Hengoed park, together with Caerphilly youth workers, Groundwork and the local PCSO.

The Bedwas Neighbourhood Policing Team also organised a litter pick in Llanbradach, with year five and six pupils from Coed-y-Brain Primary School collecting 21 bags of rubbish from nearby Llanbradach Park and Playing Fields.

All of the pupils wore protective overalls and gloves provided by Keep Wales Tidy, and used litterpicks to collect the rubbish and recycling.

PCSO Gareth Coombes from the Ystrad Mynach Neighbourhood Policing Team, said:
“We wanted to get involved with the local community during Keep Wales Tidy week to help clean up parks and green spaces for residents. A Park Watch Scheme is underway in Ystrad Mynach park, encouraging local residents to look after the park and report incidents of criminal damage and anti-social behaviour. Collecting litter from the area is another way for us to encourage residents to look after their community.”