Youngsters spring into action with massive clean-up

Apr 30 2009 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

UP to 100 youngsters showed they are a class act when taking part in a major blitz on litter across Larkhall.

Children from Hareleeshill Primary, Glengowan Primary, Craigbank Primary and Larkhall Academy took part in several ‘clean up’ days in the town.

Youth charity the Machan Trust, who are based in Marshall Street, organised the event as part of Keep Scotland Beautiful National Spring Clean campaign.

The Advertiser teamed up with South Lanarkshire Council and Keep Scotland Beautiful to encourage people to get litter picking, and tidy up their communities.

Fifteen pupils at Harleeshill Primary after-school club wore high-visibilty vests and were armed with litter picker sticks to tidy up their playground and streets surrounding the school.

They teamed up with volunteers from the Machan Trust and SNP MSP Aileen Campbell to rid the area of rubbish.

Larkhall Academy pupils tidied up the Cherryhill area and McNeil Street while Glengowan pupils were out in force to clean up in and around the school and parts of Main Street.

Craigbank Primary School blitzed the area around their school in Glengonnar Street on Tuesday and volunteers tackled the rubbish in Union Street on Saturday and the area surrounding Harleeshill Sports Barn the following day.

Hazel Shaw, youth coordinator of the Machan Trust, hailed the events a huge success.

“We collected around 30 bags of rubbish during the events.

“We found that a lot of cigarette ends were dumped in the street and would like to get the message across to MSPs that there should be more facilities available for the public to put cigarette stubs in.

“We also think that will make youngsters think twice about dropping sweet wrappers in the street.”

Speaking about the Harleeshill Primary school event, Aileen Campbell said: “It was great to see the young pupils from Hareleeshill Primary taking such pride in their area and helping so enthusiastically with the clean-up campaign.

“The group attracted a lot of attention and support from the neighbours, and I hope they will inspire their friends and the rest of the community to keep the streets litter-free.”