Morden resident Mike Roberts is the first winner of the Love Your Street prize draw, taking home a £100 One4All voucher.
Proud winner Mike Roberts
After signing up to the Love Your Street pledge to do his bit to keep Merton clean and take pride in his local area, Mike was chosen as the lucky winner of the prize draw for the first £100 gift voucher which is kindly sponsored by local business, eddisonwhite estate agents.
Proud Merton resident Mike has been working hard on a project to photograph 1,000 streets in London, many of which he has taken in Merton and will be donating to the council’s heritage service. Mike, who has had two strokes and has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, has also recently set himself the challenge of raising £1,000 for The Stroke Association by the end of the year.
The Love Your Street campaign marks the council’s new approach in its ongoing fight against people littering and fly-tipping by boosting the positive work it does with residents, businesses, community groups and schools across the borough. As well as spending over £5million keeping Merton’s streets clean every year, educating people about the effects of environmental crime and being tougher on people who drop litter, this campaign is the latest initiative in the council’s anti-litter campaign. This follows the council’s partnership with environmental enforcement specialists, on-the-spot penalty charge notices, the use of Glutton machines in town centres, the installation of special gum and cigarette butt bins across the borough and new high tech smart bins in parks. The council has also organised a programme of clean-up events with the community and details of the upcoming sessions can be found on the Love Your Street webpage.
Merton Council’s Director for Environment and Regeneration Chris Lee said: “Thanks to everyone who has taken the Love Your Street pledge so far. Merton is a great place to live but a small minority of people continue to litter our streets. We know that many residents work hard to keep their neighbourhood clean and the Love Your Street campaign is about recognising that commitment, taking a stand against litter and showing pride in our local area. Congratulations to Mike on being picked as the first winner of the prize draw. It’s a lovely coincidence that Mike is also carrying out great charity work and donating images of Merton’s roads to our heritage service.”
Mike Roberts said: “I think it’s really important that people take pride in where they live and I am pleased that the council is working with residents and the community to keep the borough clean through the Love Your Street campaign. I’m delighted to be the first winner of the Love Your Street prize draw and would encourage other residents to take the pledge!”
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Notes to editors:
1. People can sign up to the Love Your Street pledge at http://www.merton.gov.uk/LoveYourStreet