MP joins South Norfolk Council and school children for a blitz on litter and graffiti

When children at Rockland St Mary Primary School saw litter and graffiti on a village walk, they decided it was time for action.

Shortly after, 30 pupils aged between seven and nine wrote individual letters, with drawings about the problems to South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon.

Mr Bacon contacted South Norfolk Council for help and then replied separately to each pupil.

The outcome is that on Friday (July 6), the MP, the Council, teachers and children will walk through the village on a blitz against litter and graffiti.

The council will use the opportunity to unveil its new graffiti-cleaning machine.

Mr Bacon said:

“I am keen to encourage young people to be aware of their environment and to be concerned about anti-social behaviour so I was very pleased to receive the children’s letters. I congratulate class teacher Jessica Hoare on setting the children such a worthwhile project.”

Mr Bacon added:

“I would also like to thank South Norfolk Council for their interest and the support they have given. I am sure the children will have lots of good memories of the day."

The children’s plea for action was prompted by Miss Hoare. She had been working with them on a project called “improving our environment”.

This led to a village walk where the children saw the litter and graffiti and they wrote to Richard Bacon MP asking for help and advice.

She said said:

"It's great to see the children's concerns resulting in direct positive action."

Councillor David Bills who leads for South Norfolk Council on the environment, has launched a campaign to “put our environment first in everything we do”.

As part of this, he announced this week a new freephone number - 0808 168 2999 - for people to call to report environmental crimes like littering, graffiti and fly-tipping, and also incidents of vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Bills said:

“We are fortunate to live in a beautiful part of the country. South Norfolk is a great place to be in, we need the co-operation of the community to keep it this way. That is why we set up the freephone number - let’s be proud of our district and act when we see anti-social behaviour.”

Richard Bacon will meet the children at the primary school in School Lane, Rockland St Mary at 9.30am on Friday, July 6.

Mr Bacon will be joined by Head Teacher Ken Holbeck, who this summer is retiring after 23 years leading the school.

Mr Holbeck said:

“"I am delighted to see our pupils' concern for the local community and that their voice is being heard."

The pupils will be given council litter-pickers so they can walk down School Lane clearing litter.

At the bus shelter, they will watch Richard Bacon use the graffiti machine to spay clean the shelter of graffiti.

Then the group will head to the reading rooms, recently upgraded thanks to a community grant from South Norfolk Council.

Finally, they return to the Margaret Mack Rooms next to the school to watch as the graffiti-covered outside rear wall is painted over.

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