City businesses team up to wage war on litter
Businesses have joined forces to clean the streets leading up to Piccadilly train station, to enhance the visitor experience when arriving into Manchester city centre.
More than 20 volunteers from Abode, Malmaison, Manchester Arndale, Bruntwood and Jigsaw took part in the clean-up, which has been driven and funded by CityCo, Manchester’s city centre management company, in partnership with Manchester City Council, following feedback from its members that the arrival into the city is the main cause for complaint.
The CityCo Street Cleaning Sub-Committee, which is chaired by David Allinson, director of Manchester Arndale and includes Jigsaw, Bridge Street Atrium, Abode, Bruntwood, Boots and Biffa, selected a stretch of pavement from the corner of Dale Street to the corner of Oldham Street to clean, with the work involving cleaning the bins, tree pits, painting the bollards, removing gum, removing graffiti, pruning trees, using the glutton (street hoover), washing the benches as well as jet washing and sweeping.
An independent membership organisation, CityCo looks after 1,000 businesses covering all sectors, sizes and locations.
In addition to the operational and security support offered to its membership network, it also runs Manchester’s Business Improvement District – the Heart of Manchester BID, high-profile corporate networking events and The PA Network.
In addition to the clean-up, and as a part of CityCo’s continued lobbying, BT will also be removing one of its old phone boxes.
Alex King, partnership director at CityCo said: “We work constantly with our members and city stakeholders to identify the issues that have the biggest impact on their businesses and the arrival experience in to Manchester for visitors has proved a constant cause for concern. Businesses have been extremely generous with their time and energy and have come out to help make a difference today.
“If this galvanises people into thinking twice before dropping litter, it will be a real step forwards.”
Cllr Pat Karney, Manchester’s city centre spokesman, said: “Today has shown a number of businesses coming together to do their bit and is an excellent example of how we can all work together to tackle the issue of litter every day. Everyone from local businesses, to residents and visitors to Manchester should make a commitment to helping protect the local environment. We should be proud of our city and have a genuine desire to keep it clean.”
