The In Roads campaign, a joint initiative between the Advertiser and Great Yarmouth Borough Council, seeks to help neighbours become communities.
Since In Roads began we have featured communities that work closely together and introduced organisations and schemes that will help communities brighten up their neighbourhood.
This month we want to focus on how the community can ‘make a difference’, highlighting the work the Borough Council, in partnership with GYB Services and other agencies undertake and ask for residents help to make their town a place to be proud of.
Councillor James Shrimplin, cabinet member for the environment said: “There are various ways that residents can assist the authorities to make the town a better place to live. All of the initiatives highlighted below are ways the community can really help make a difference.”
Things you can do to help include:
You can help make the streets safer by reporting any faulty lights including location and if possible column number, to Norfolk County Council on 0844 8008 008.
Notify the authorities when you spot an abandoned car on 01493 846846. In October 10 cars were removed by the Borough Council via the Car Clear Partnership, with the County Council and Police. A total of 1018 cars have been removed since the scheme began in 2004.
The Dynamic Environmental Response Team (DERT), run by GYB Services, in partnership with the Borough Council continues to be busy and recently focused their street deep cleansing in Gorleston. The deep cleansing includes cleaning gullies, channels, footpaths and curbs and removing weeds and graffiti. Letters were sent to residents asking for their cars to be moved so a really thorough job could be done.
Terry Bensley, Street Scene Inspector, spoke about the work of the DERT Team and how important it is for residents to be involved. “The residents play an important part in identifying areas that need a thorough clean and in moving vehicles when street deep cleans are planned. If more residents could take more responsibility for their local area, the clean ups would not be needed as much.”
Fly tipping continues to be a busy area and during October 239 calls were received from the public. We collected:
At least 325 dumped black sacks
44 dumped mattresses
43 sofas and chairs
In total there were:
176 fly tips received in Great Yarmouth
38 in Gorleston
6 in Cobholm
11 in Bradwell
1 in Caister
5 in Southtown
1 in Hopton
1 in Belton
We urge the public to continue to help by calling the rangers on 846478.
Importantly, ‘you’, the community, are increasingly becoming involved in various projects and schemes, for example the ‘Grey 2 Green’ initiative which focuses on improving areas, making them cleaner, safer and greener, currently improvements to Swirles Place and Fox’s Passage in Great Yarmouth are taking place and all involve local people giving up their time.
It is always good to get feedback on the services we provide. The Borough Council’s partner, GYB Services participates in an Annual Customer Service Survey conducted by its parent company Norfolk County Services. Thirty commercial premises within the Borough were asked about the trade waste service provided by GYB Services and gave a resounding thumbs up with 100% satisfaction.
We must just mention the recent storm of the 8th and 9th of November and the amazing community spirit that was displayed throughout the town during this very worrying time.
The community really did pull together, with many people assisting staff from GYB Services throughout the night, helping to fill sandbags at the various sand dumps spread throughout Great Yarmouth and Gorleston.
We would like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and New Year.