Residents go wombling to highlight environmental improvement funding bid

Residents’ associations are teaming up with Stafford Borough Council in a joint litter pick to raise awareness for a planned environmental project.

Castlefields Residents’ Association, working with Newport Road Area Residents’ Association, Castletown and Virginia Park Residents’ Association and Dean’s Park Court Residents’ Association are taking part in the clean-up of land around the town’s main Sainsburys store.

They are hoping the joint operation with the council will help bring attention to their bid for funding that will help connect and enhance existing green spaces - and the network of pathways connecting them.

The residents’ groups have partnered with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and Rising Group Ground Force to submit their plans for ‘Section 106’ funding - which is money set aside for local improvements which developers are obligated to provide as part of building projects in an area.

Councillor Tony Pearce, Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery at the Borough Council, said the council had made climate change and nature recovery one of their top priorities and was pleased to see residents putting forward this exciting initiative.

“Local residents have put forward an excellent proposal for a nature corridor that would link the castle, the river, and the town. It is imaginative and would make a big contribution to nature recovery in Stafford. I hope that people will come out and take part in this litter pick - which will not only help keep the area tidy but also highlight this great initiative.”

The litter pick takes place from 10am to 12 noon on Friday morning (20 June) and the group will be meeting at the small roundabout on Sainsbury’s carpark in Stafford with everyone welcome to join in. 

Lorna Green, Chair of Castlefields Residents, said: “Stafford is a unique town, a green lung between the Potteries and the Black Country. The rural area consists of wetlands, woods and heathland which supports a large range of habitats which is extremely important for biodiversity.

“We are submitting this project in a bid for funding to enhance the connectivity of large areas of pathways and for more green open space for our generation and future generations to enjoy. This litter pick is the start of what we hope is a successful partnership between four resident associations, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, and the borough council.”