Pupils clean up as Keep Harehills Tidy campaign launched

The two-year long Leeds City council backed campaign was launched last month after residents raised concerns about litter problems in the area.

The campaign aims to encourage and inspire residents, businesses and organisations to take pride in their community and get involved in clean up events.

Bankside Primary School pupils and parents were encouraged to pick up a piece of litter a day on their way to school during one week in March.

It was a major success and they managed to fill a skip full of rubbish. Children at Harehills and Hovingham primary schools are also involved in the project.

This month’s campaign theme is centred around encouraging Harehills residents to clean up their gardens.

Bankside Primary School assistant headteacher Kauser Jan, said: “We want to develop a more cohesive approach and work collectively.

“So far the response has been very good. I feel as if we are building momentum through engagement because people are owning it. It is about making people aware about how and why we need a community that’s clean.”

The Keep Harehills Tidy website states: “Keep Harehills Tidy supports change in Harehills so it becomes a place kept clean and tidy by the people who live, work and visit there.”

Residents are being invited to a ‘Harehills Grime Meeting’ at the Compton Centre on Harehills Lane from 6pm to 7pm on April 28.

Information about how to get involved can be found at www.keepharehillstidy.co.uk and on the Keep Harehills Tidy Facebook page. Anyone interested in becoming part of the campaign team can e mail [email protected]