Ashford Borough Council is supporting The Great British Spring Clean to spruce-up the borough for all its residents and visitors this weekend.

The clear-up led by Keep Britain Tidy, is the country’s biggest-ever community clean and the council is getting on board by supporting local litter picks happening between 3-5 March.

The council will be providing litter picking equipment and helping to dispose of the litter collected.

Kentish Stour Countryside Partnership have organised a pick along the River Stour on Friday, March 3 from 10am to 4pm. Cllr Jenny Webb, member for Ashford Norman Ward, will be provide refreshments for volunteers.

To help out, meet the group at the domestic side of Ashford International Train Station just before 10am.

For more information or to register your interest in volunteering contact kentishstour@kent.gov.uk or call 03000410900.

In addition, on Saturday, March 4 Keep Ashford Clean will be adorning their high-vis jackets to litter pick around Victoria Park at 10am.

The team will then head to Queen Mothers Park on Heathfield Road at 1pm to clear rubbish. Equipment will be provided. Cubs and brownies are invited and the event provides steps towards earning a Community Engagement badge. If you would like to get involved contact Keep Ashford Clean via their Facebook page.

Parish Councils have also planned their own litter picking events. Events in Ashford include March 3 in Hamstreet Village organised by Orlestone Women’s Institute, March 4 around Shadoxhurst by Shadoxhurst Parish Council, March 4 to 5 from Heathfield Road to Givaudan and Queen Mothers Park and March 11 at Wittersham village hall and its residential roads, organised by Wittersham Parish Council.

If you would like to get involved with one of these litter picks, contact the council via streetscene@ashford.gov.uk or visit www.greatbritishspringclean.org.uk to find your nearest litter pick event.

Anyone looking to organise their own litter pick should fill in a community litter pick form which can be found on the council website at www.ashford.gov.uk/litter or call 01233 331111.

You can also tweet your event to @AshfordCouncil who can help promote your litter pick.

In addition to supporting various litter picks, the council are joining forces with Kent County Council and Biffa to clean the town’s signage, refresh the road markings in Park Street and East Street, and many of the bollards and traffic islands around the borough will be spruced-up too.

Cllr Clair Bell, Portfolio Holder for Borough Presentation, said: “The Great British Spring Clean is an excellent opportunity for residents to give something back to the community.
By volunteering your time to litter pick around Ashford, together we can continue living in a pleasant, clean and tidy borough.

"We’re delighted to be supporting local litter picking groups and we hope the campaign will continue to inspire residents to keep Ashford looking its very best.”