Summer sweep-ups at Craigywarren & Cargan

Craigywarren residents Joshua Dowds, Martha Ann Bunnes and Brooke McCally were joined by Mayor Councillor Audrey Wales MBE and the Councils Environmental Health Officer, Kevin Woodin, to lend a helping hand in scrubbing up the Craigywarren Estate as part of a series of Summer Sweep Up events organised by Mid & East Antrim Borough Council to help improve local areas.(Submitted)

Craigywarren Residents Association participated in a four hour ‘Craigywarren Clean Up’ event and were joined by Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Audrey Wales MBE.

The Mayor said, “I was delighted to help with a summer sweep up event to improve the local area. These clean-up events are a vital initiative by the Council with great support from local residents and community organisations, as well as environmental charities such as Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, to ensure a beautiful Borough which we can be proud of.

“It is very much a combined effort between Council and residents that aims to keep Craigywarren as clean and tidy as possible and I commend the Craigywarren Residents Association and local volunteers on an excellent job.”

Primary 7 pupils from St. Marys Primary School in Cargan participated in a Summer Sweep Up of Cargan village to help improve the local area. Pictured (L-R) are pupils Connor Laverty, Beth Mc Clements, Toni Kerr, Mia Rose Crossett and Grace Dougan with outgoing Mayor Councillor Billy Ashe, Cllr Paul Maguire and members of the Glenravel & District Community & Residents Association and staff from Environmental Services and Operational Services of Mid & East Antrim Borough Council.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council facilitated the event, working with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and the residents association, and provided bags, gloves and equipment for the clean-up. The Council also managed waste collection.

Representatives from the Council were also on hand to provide advice to residents on waste management including the use of kerbie boxes, free bulky collections and the use of waste recycling centres. The Council hopes the clean-up event will encourage other residents groups to carry out regular clean ups of local areas.

In another summer sweep up initiative, primary 7 pupils from St. Mary’s Primary School in Cargan also participated in a ‘Cargan Clean Up’ to get the village ready for summer. The local children were joined by outgoing Mayor, Councillor Billy Ashe and Councillor Paul Maguire, members of the Glenravel & District Community & Residents Association and staff from Environmental Services and Operational Services of Mid & East Antrim Borough Council.

Commenting on the clean-up, Councillor Billy Ashe said, “Cargan village is generally well managed but there are still small pockets where more can be done and it is these hot-spots that we tackled on the day of the event.”

“We will be carrying out and also encouraging other residents groups or individuals to get involved in such clean ups on a regular basis and welcome suggestions of other suitable locations.

“We also encourage residents to report any illegal dumping incidents such as fly tipping to Council,” Cllr Ashe concluded.