Litter pick marks start of improving everyday journeys
15 Rigside and Douglas Water residents joined the community litter pick on Saturday 21 August, collecting a whopping 22 bags between them.
13 adults and 2 under 16s were joined by MSP for Clydesdale, Mairi McAllan who turned up to show her support for the day. It is hoped that community members will run the litter pick as a regular event.
The litter pick was organised by Community Action Lanarkshire as part of the Make Your Way sustainable travel project, following the results of a community survey in June. The survey identified priority environmental volunteering opportunities and appetite for walking and cycling activities. It also identified the installation of additional benches and cycle racks in the village as initiatives that would support people to walk, wheel and cycle more locally.
The litter pick precludes a Community Street Audit, scheduled for Saturday 4 September, 10am – 12 noon, meeting at the Beechgrove Street benches. Led by Living Streets, the session will include a short introduction to street audits, followed by an hour-long walk-around where problem areas and potential solutions to make everyday walking, wheeling and cycling journeys easier, will be identified.
Discussion during the walk-around will include; where additional seating may be required; where bikes can be parked; whether it is easy to get around with a pram, mobility aids, or for those with visual impairments; areas where irresponsible parking hinders walking and cycling; road crossing points; and wet and winter weather conditions. A paper and digital option to join the Community Street Audit will be provided at a later date. View the Facebook event at: https://fb.me/e/18rYrKNmg
Residents can book a place on the Community Street Audit by contacting
MSP for Clydesdale, Mairi McAllan says, “I was delighted to join the community in Rigside to help with the litter pick on Saturday. Many of us have been spending more time in our local towns and villages over the pandemic, and appreciating our countryside – but unfortunately, litter has remained an ever-present blight. Pulling together for the litter pick helps to make a real difference to keep Clydesdale litter-free.”
“I would encourage everyone to sign up for the Street Audit that will present a renewed opportunity to focus on how we can meet our sustainable travel priorities, such as journeys by walking, wheeling and cycling.”
The litter pick and Community Street Audit are taking place as part of the Make Your Way project, focussing on progressing sustainable travel priorities in Crawford and Elvanfoot, Glespin, and Rigside and Douglas Water before April 2022. It is part of a year on year programme, running since 2016, which targets sustainable travel in rural Lanarkshire and has included community mapping and the development of Sustainable Travel Action Plans to date.
The programme is supported by Paths for All’s Smarter Choices Smarter Places, Strathclyde Passenger Transport and South Lanarkshire Council’s Renewable Energy Fund. It is managed by Rural Development Trust’s Community Action Lanarkshire programme. The community of Glespin voted to progress a Feasibility Study for an active travel route to Douglas, whilst the community in Crawford voted to progress a Feasibility Study for pedestrian safety measures.
This year’s Make Your Way project also includes a programme of community and school cycling activities and training, the development of sustainable travel information booklets, and the installation of Make Your Way mapboards and wayfinding in Crawford and Elvanfoot, Glespin, and Rigside and Douglas Water.
Book a place on the Community Street Audit by contacting