People living in Birch Green are being encouraged to get involved in a community event on their doorstep.
West Lancashire Borough Council is joining forces with the police, fire service and other agencies to organise a Community Action and Engagement Event on the Skelmersdale estate.
Similar events have taken place in other areas within the borough and have proved that community spirit is very much alive and well.
Last year, hundreds of people took part in a series of Community Action and Engagement Events that were delivered in New Church Farm, Scott Estate, Tanhouse, Digmoor and Little Digmoor. Over 200 tonnes of waste were cleared through the use of community skips.
Councillor David Sudworth, portfolio holder for Health, Leisure and Community Safety, said: “Community Action and Engagement Days are always good for bringing the community together as well as giving people the chance to talk to staff from the Council and other agencies about their concerns for the estate. I would encourage everyone living in Birch Green to take part in the upcoming events.”
For the Birch Green Community Action and Engagement Event, Borough Council staff, police and fire service personnel will be out and about so people living on the estate can raise any issues of concern they have with officers. Fire service staff will be encouraging people to have free fire safety checks on their homes and giving information about other fire safety issues.
A skip will be placed on different parts of the estate from 9am until they are full on the following days: Fairlie on Wednesday 30 July and Heversham on Thursday 31 July 2014. The rest of the activities will focus on these areas.
Funding for the skips has come from the West Lancashire Community Safety Partnership. The events have a strong community focus and a key aim is to provide opportunities to positively engage the local community and strengthen the relationship with service providers. Representatives from community safety partner agencies will be on hand to answer questions and offer advice and support were needed. The Birch Green event will be the first of six events that will be delivered across Skelmersdale in 2014. The others ones will in Tanhouse, Digmoor and Little Digmoor.
The Council’s environmental enforcement team will be dealing with issues around fly tipping and dog mess being left on the streets. Other services that will be around include community clean up's supported by the Lancashire Probation Community Payback Team and Addaction drugs and alcohol services staff will give advice on how to overcome addictions to drugs and alcohol.
Dave Tilleray, chair of the West Lancashire Community Safety Partnership, said: “I want to thank all the councillors and partner agencies for supporting the Community Action and Engagement Event and helping to make sure it is a success.”