Press Release: NEATH AM WELCOMES KEEP WALES TIDY PRIZE FOR LOCAL GROUP

NEATH AM Gwenda Thomas added her congratulations to the Dyffryn Clydach Volunteers for their success in the Keep Wales Tidy Awards 2007.

Gwenda Thomas AM praised the local volunteers for their efforts, which have been recognised with the Tidy Wales Award Trophy - presented to the group by the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing, Jane Davidson AM.

They also received the Rhiannon Bevan Award which was presented for the first time last year. The award is in memory of Rhiannon who until her recent death had served as chairman of the Keep Wales Tidy Board for many years.

The Dyffryn Clydach volunteers were formed in 1987 and over the past 20 years they have been removed hundreds of tonnes of rubbish in their locality. They have also converted numerous littered and vandalised locations into safe, local amenity areas.

During the past year they have been working at 20 different locations. In addition to removing 56 tonnes of litter they joined forces with Crynant School to create bird boxes and constructing fishing platforms for the disabled.

GWENDA THOMAS AM said:

‘‘It’s great to see so many people, especially young people, getting involved to clean up our communities.

‘’People are concerned about the rubbish they see on their streets, parks and rivers – and they want something done about it.

‘’That’s why it is so important that the Labour led Welsh Assembly Government is behind local efforts all the way so that we can all be proud of the comminities that we live in.

‘’Under Labour the amount of rubbish we recycle in Neath has increased dramatically and tougher fines have been introduced to combat dog-fouling, littering and fly-tipping. But there is always more that we can all do to help make the local environment that much cleaner and healthier.

‘’Welsh Labour is already taking steps to ensure that the Assembly Government will be able to make Welsh laws over these issues so we can give local people and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council all the power they need to clean up our streets.’’
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