Love where you live plea

ALL spruced up . . . Burnley Lane and Laburnum Avenue

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RESIDENTS are showing pride in where they live by taking control of communal alleyways ­- transforming them from dumping grounds into attractive gardens ­- and council chiefs want more to follow their lead.

Burnley Lane and Laburnum Avenue residents in Chadderton are pioneers of the scheme after contacting Oldham Council in 2014 to report an untidy and overgrown gated alleyway plagued by fly-tipping, domestic waste and pests.

With Oldham Council's support they've taken responsibility for the alleyways, clearing them up and turning them into a communal garden.

They've built boundary walls, installed bedding boxes, a brick barbecue and wooden planters, while local councillors have also funded a bench.

The council sees it as a shining example of residents showing they love where they live and want others to follow to clean up the borough and help defeat fly-tipping.

Chadderton District Executive paid for a skip, equipment and resources and the residents, council volunteers and councillors all mucked in. Support also came via Voluntary Action Oldham and funding from Action Together and Roca (First Choice Homes Oldham funding).

The communal area opened in summer, 2015, and it now looks that good it formed part of this year's Bloom and Grow entry in Britain in Bloom. The residents have now set up a group called Friends of Burnley Lane and Laburnum Avenue.

Also doing their bit is residents group "Westoria" ­- Victoria Street and Westfield Street ­- formed in February.

Awarded £2,466 of Green Dividend Funding from Action Together, they have developed their communal alleyway into a growing space.

They also arranged a community clean up and carried out a litter pick with elected members.

Two more groups are now about to start brightening up their surroundings. Residents at the side of 2 Westfield Street and the rear of 85-93 Burnley Lane have organised a community planting session. Spring bulbs will be planted in recycled plant pots donated by Greater Manchester Police.

People living on "TLC" ­- Turf Lane, Long Lane and Chestnut Street, Chadderton ­- have met and are in the process of forming a residents' group.

Councillor Barbara Brownridge said: "The work that is going on in these areas deserves to be highlighted.

"As we know some of the work has already been completed and I'm sure once the other groups have done their bit then they'll have communal areas they can all enjoy and be proud of.

"We are always looking to work co-operatively with residents across the borough so if people would like to do similar work then we'd love to hear from you.

"As these residents show, the vast majority take pride in their area but unfortunately a small minority continue to dump litter and fly-tip which costs the council a lot of money to clear up.

"Oldham would be a much nicer place if everyone followed the example of the majority and loved where they live."

If you would like to organise a similar initiative in your area visit www.oldham.gov.uk/love_where_you_live